STL Partners’ network edge data centre forecast 2024–2028
This dashboard presents the key findings of STL Partners’ Network edge data centre forecast. Its purpose is to provide answers to key questions such as:
- How many edge data centres will telcos build and make available for consumer/enterprise applications?
- How much capacity of telco edge computing will there be globally?
- What proportion of telco edge data centre capacity will be taken up by hyperscalers’ platforms?
The dashboard presents a summary of our model output and the associated graphics for the world’s regions and the data for 100 of the leading telecoms operators. You can now segment by individual operator too and see their forecast buildout.
STL Partners forecasts three deployment architecture types at the network edge
The telecoms industry has always been a key part of the buildout of the network edge and pioneered early developments, such as through initiatives like ETSI MEC (multi-access edge computing). However, there are several different scenarios for building out the network edge, all of which are playing out today. This forecast covers all three scenarios for building the network edge, as illustrated in the graph below.
The output of the forecast focuses on capacity: Number of edge data centres and servers
STL Partners has always argued that for network edge to take off, developers and enterprises need to see sufficient capacity at the edge to transform their applications to leverage its benefits at scale.
This forecast therefore provides an indication of how this capacity will grow over the next four years, by predicting the number of edge data centres owned by telecoms operators and third parties, and how many servers they plan to fill these up with.
We have revised our network edge data centre forecast upwards, with a CAGR of 22% predicted over the next four years
Segments
- Site
- Access site
- Access aggregation
- Transport aggregation
- Edge server owner
- Telecoms operator
- Hyperscaler
- Neutral third-party host
- Region
- Europe & Central Asia
- East Asia & Pacific
- Latin America & Caribbean
- Middle East & North Africa
- North America
- South Asia
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Country
- Telecoms operator