What's Happening?
Telefónica is set to deploy 17 commercial edge cloud nodes by the end of 2026 as part of a European Union-funded initiative to establish a sovereign, shared cloud infrastructure across Europe. The Spanish
telecommunications company has already activated ten nodes and plans to install the remaining seven in 2026. These nodes, which are being installed in repurposed copper exchanges, will provide enhanced compute and storage capacity at the network edge. This initiative is part of the EU's Important Project of Common European Interest for Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI CIS) program, which aims to strengthen digital sovereignty and data portability in Europe. The project is supported by 12 EU member states and involves significant public and private investment.
Why It's Important?
The deployment of edge nodes by Telefónica is significant as it represents a strategic move to leverage edge computing for monetizing 5G and fiber network assets. This development is expected to support advanced services such as Industry 4.0, assisted driving, and digital twins, which are crucial for digital transformation across various sectors. By enhancing the edge computing infrastructure, Telefónica aims to provide AI capabilities and reduce the need for major initial investments by offering GPUs as a service. This initiative not only supports the EU's goal of digital sovereignty but also positions Telefónica as a key player in the evolving landscape of cloud-edge computing.
What's Next?
Telefónica's edge computing initiative is expected to continue evolving under the 8ra trademark, with a focus on building a federated and multi-provider cloud-edge continuum. The company is open to collaborating with other projects and initiatives that align with the goal of a federated cloud edge network. As the project progresses, it will likely attract more investment and participation from other EU member states and companies, further strengthening Europe's position in the global cloud computing market.
