HPE Unveils Edge Computing Advancements at Discover, Positioning the Edge as the New Digital Hub

LAS VEGAS — At HPE Discover, Tom Bradicich, Ph.D., Vice President and Global Head of Edge and IoT Center of Excellence, declared, “The edge is where the action is.” Keerti Melkote, Founder and President of Aruba (an HPE‑owned networking firm), added that “the edge has become the new hub of the digital universe.”

Edge computing represents a decisive shift from the centralized models of on‑premise and cloud data centers. It delivers powerful processing to dynamic, often unpredictable sites such as factory floors, locomotives, battlefields, oil rigs, coffee shops, and hospitals. Telecom operators are also extending robust compute to their central offices and base stations.

As Bradicich explained, “These are the environments we refer to as the edge—neither part of the cloud nor a traditional data center.”

While HPE’s announcement to transition all its products to a service model by 2022 dominated headlines, edge‑computing initiatives were among the most highlighted topics at the event.

Industry analysts anticipate a dramatic increase in edge‑side processing. Gartner forecasted that by 2025, 75 % of all compute would migrate to the edge. Although traditionally linked to IoT workloads, Forrester highlights growing telco adoption: 27 % of respondents in its 2018 Global Business Technographics Mobility Survey intended to launch or expand edge projects in 2019.

While edge computing is a hot topic, it may not fit Clayton Christensen’s classic definition of a disruptive technology that starts at the low end of the market. Rather, it complements and extends the cloud, reshaping enterprise compute. Antonio Neri, HPE CEO, noted in his keynote, “The edge is the natural next step of the cloud experience,” underscoring its promise to bring centralized computing to virtually every location.

Gartner’s report, “The Edge Completes the Cloud,” observes that cloud adoption has reached a saturation point, effectively ending the historical cycle between centralization and decentralization. Edge computing is not a response to cloud shortcomings but rather a strategic response to emerging applications that cannot tolerate the latency or cost of traditional cloud delivery.

Daniel Newman, Principal Analyst at Futurum Research, emphasized that “the edge and the cloud are designed to interoperate.” Edge computing empowers enterprises to deploy high‑performance compute with reduced latency and bandwidth demands, while also enabling smarter data selection for cloud transmission. As Newman noted, “much of the data captured at the edge can be selectively shared, processed, and analyzed in the cloud.”

Bradicich also views edge computing as a catalyst for enduring trends like big data—a concept Roger Mougalas of O’Reilly Media introduced in 2005 to describe massive datasets previously beyond the reach of conventional business intelligence tools.

Bradicich remarked, “If you’re a big‑data enthusiast, the edge will captivate you. The volume of big data at the edge surpasses all other data categories combined.”

By delivering high‑performance compute to the network edge—traditionally resource‑constrained—edge architecture provides “full enterprise‑class technologies” and the possibility for deployment to be autonomous, independent, and isolated, Bradicich explained.

Edge computing extends advanced analytics, including machine learning, into operational technology, leveraging sensors and data acquisition. Bradicich noted, “The edge is where the ‘things’ are—the ‘T’ in IoT.”

HPE committed $4 billion to edge initiatives through 2022, while Microsoft announced a $5 billion investment in IoT and edge technologies around the same period.

Edge computing is also fostering strategic collaborations.

Earlier this year, Samsung and HPE unveiled a partnership to accelerate 5G deployment for telecom operators, combining Samsung’s virtual radio access network (vRAN) software and integration services with HPE’s Edgeline EL8000 edge platform—built on feedback from HPE’s telco clients.

At HPE Discover, AT&T unveiled its strategy to boost edge adoption in partnership with HPE. The telecom also highlighted progress on a smart‑city collaboration with San Jose. AT&T’s Multi‑Access Edge Compute (MEC) services integrate cellular—potentially 5G—with HPE Edgeline systems, delivering low‑latency compute for demanding applications.

Mo Katibeh, AT&T Business Chief Marketing Officer, stated, “AT&T’s software‑defined network, including 5G, paired with HPE’s intelligent edge infrastructure provides businesses with a flexible platform to analyze data and run low‑latency, high‑bandwidth applications.”

HPE is poised to issue further telecom‑centric edge announcements as it continues to invest and gather customer insights. Daniel Newman observed, “HPE is well positioned to support service providers’ goals of monetizing the edge and 5G.” He added, “While public cloud giants such as AWS and Azure offer edge‑to‑cloud options, many applications will still require low‑latency converged systems at the edge. HPE’s Edgeline 8000 delivers that capability.” Newman predicts these collaborations will “grow as providers seek new revenue streams from 5G at the edge.”

Edge computing opens fresh business avenues for HPE across industry sectors. Bradicich highlighted “historic edge deployments” with clients including Foxconn, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA), Seagate, CenterPoint Energy, and Tesla.

Although edge computing is poised to become ubiquitous, much of the dialogue remains speculative at this nascent stage.

During a session at HPE Discover, Bradicich used a vivid analogy: “We’re just scratching the surface of the edge.” He held up a large beach ball, drew a dime‑sized circle on it, and said, “That circle represents what we currently know about the edge industry. The ball itself symbolizes the vast potential and knowledge yet to be uncovered.”