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Healthcare is in the midst of a transformational era driven by digitalisation and Big Data. More recently, a paradigm shift driven by edge computing is providing an opportunity for low-to-middle income countries (LMIC) to close the inequality gap. Here, I discuss five prerogatives for success.
The power of edge computing lies in its distributed nature. In other words, rather than connecting everything to the cloud – and dealing with some of the associated challenges around privacy, security, regulations, data interoperability, data processing, computing power and the like – edge computing pushes the storage and analysis closer to where data is produced. This has tremendous consequences for industries which rely on real-time computing, including driverless cars and continuous remote monitoring – and with 5G becoming a reality, edge computing is about to make a lot of noise. For low-to-middle income countries (LMIC), this is a great opportunity to bridge the inequality gap. Here, I discuss five global considerations to make it a reality.
1. Edge computing will rely on stable 5G infrastructure
- One of the main challenges to overcome in order to benefit from edge computing is the implementation of 5G at scale. This means that countries will require large investments in fibre networks, which will be costly, especially for the ‘last mile’. But, the benefits of 5G will outweigh the cost in the medium term. From remote surgery to tourism through the Internet of Everything (IoE), 5G will soon be a major driver of our global economy, and will act as a major lever when it comes to reaching remote communities with scarce resources and skills including doctors and teachers.
2. Allocation of spectrums must be governed by rural-friendly frameworks
- While many of us spend a lot of our time ‘connected’, the advent of digitalisation has taken a toll on the availability of radio spectrums that may be used for wireless communication. For seamless implementation, countries should explore frameworks to regulate spectrum allocation, considering the impact on speed and reach of each frequency. This is particularly true in LMIC, in which use cases can provide information on spectrum allocation. For instance, reach may be prioritised at the expense of speed in remote regions, where access to medical information is lacking, while the contrary may hold true in large metropolitan areas, where emergency medical services (EMS) are the bottleneck to better care.
3. Success will stem from complex, multi-stakeholder landscapes
- For edge computing to become a reality, many moving parts need to come together. From telecom providers to device manufacturers through national framework agreements. This complex stakeholder landscape will come with the challenge of defining what can be done locally, and where outsourcing may be a catalyst to success.
4. Focus on outcomes, not data
- The centralised era of digital transformation is steadily coming to an end. Over the past twenty years, many companies have focused on data acquisition and ownership, heavily investing in the underpinning of infrastructure and capabilities – cloud storage, bandwidth, cybersecurity and the likes. Focusing on data insights and outcomes provides the opportunity to bypass many of these barriers while complying with increasingly strict data sovereignty laws, thereby levelling the playing field for LMIC.
5. Don’t mirror high income countries
- Paradigm shifts are the perfect instrument to reset the counter. While high income countries will benefit from more extensive experience when it comes to infrastructure, it would be foolish to believe that digital transformations will follow a linear process. In this case, the fact that LMIC cannot afford many of the Western world’s innovations is an opportunity – not a barrier – to better solutions. So, it’s essential for LMIC to innovate locally rather than try to retrofit alternative solutions. Several success stories already exist, including Kenya’s M-pesa online banking and microfinancing solution, accessible through feature phone, launched in 2007. In comparison, the first release of Apple Pay was in 2014. Edge computing will be no different. For instance, while there may be overlap, many of Africa’s use cases are likely to look very different compared to those of Germany or the US.
While it requires significantly less infrastructure than cloud solutions, edge computing still relies on a stable 5G network, an efficient multi-stakeholder effort and creative local innovation. For LMIC to avoid missing out on the tremendous opportunities it has to offer when it comes to levelling the playing field on important societal issues including education and health, governments should invest wisely, focusing on their own challenges rather than tirelessly playing catch-up with the West.
Conclusions
- Edge computing has a great opportunity to level the playing field on important societal issues including education and health.
- While it requires lighter infrastructure, a stable 5G network is key.
- The fact that digital transformations are non-linear and non-deterministic is a benefit for LMIC.
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