Use cases
MEC use cases include, and are not limited to, Internet-of-Things (IoT), V2X, drones, gaming, video analytics, location services, augmented reality, optimised local content distribution and data caching.
Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) offers application developers and content providers cloud-computing capabilities and an IT service environment at the edge of the network. This environment is characterised by ultra-low latency and high bandwidth as well as real-time access to radio network information that can be leveraged by applications.
ETSI’s Industry Specification Group on Multi-access Edge Computing (ISG MEC) aims to unite the telco and IT-cloud worlds, providing IT and cloud-computing capabilities within the RAN (Radio Access Network). Operators can open their Radio Access Network (RAN) edge to authorised third parties, allowing them to flexibly and rapidly deploy innovative applications and services towards mobile subscribers, enterprises and vertical segments. Also, many edge deployment options are possible, from on-premise edge to network edge. Furthermore, service providers can also collaborate among them and with cloud providers in a federated way.
It is worth noting that MEC is not only focused on mobile networks, but also fixed and WLAN accesses, for example.
Key areas of work
APIs
MEC APIs are available on the ETSI Forge platform which is a collaborative tool for standardised technologies where users of ETSI standards can download software produced collaboratively by ETSI delegates.
Sandbox
The MEC Sandbox is a playground to learn MEC APIs in an interactive environment. It enables users to learn and experiment with ETSI MEC Service APIs. It is evolving into the Edge Native Connector.
PoCs
The Proof of Concept (PoC) may help to increase and accelerate the adoption of MEC. The MEC PoC Framework describes the full ISG MEC PoC activity process, roles, responsibilities and acceptance criteria. The list of ongoing PoCs is regularly updated.
Hackathons
MEC Hackathons participate to engage the ecosystem and encourage all stakeholders to use MEC work to develop edge applications. The general MEC Hackathon Framework is available.
White Papers
MEC regularly publishes White papers. These serve as an introduction to various MEC topics for developers or other stakeholders, e.g. access to service APIs across the industry, MEC in IoT, support for edge native design, security, MEC Federation.
What we do
ISG MEC is currently focused on its ‘Phase 4’ activities that consider a complex heterogeneous cloud ecosystem. This work embraces:
- MEC security enhancements.
- Consolidating the development of MEC Federation.
- Addressing multi-domain and multi-tenancy slicing and MEC support for application slicing.
- Addressing the recommendations coming from the study on Abstracted Radio Network Information for Industries, expanded traditional cloud and NFV Life Cycle Management (LCM) approaches, and mobile or intermittently connected components and consumer-owned cloud resources.
- Supporting edge native applications, leveraging the evolutions of communication systems toward 6G.
The MEC DECODE Working Group (WG) is focused on easing the implementation path for vendors, operators and application developers by providing SW implementation of APIs; developing a testing and compliance framework and a sandbox environment to be used in application development. All these are available through ETSI FORGE and in the case of the MEC Sandbox, a dedicated portal.
The WG also actively works to help enable and promote the MEC ecosystem by hosting Proof-of-Concept (PoC) and MEC Deployment Trial (MDT) environments, as well as supporting and running Hackathons.
Standards & documents
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ETSI GS MEC 002 V4.2.1 (2026-05) Published
Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC); Use Cases and Requirements
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ETSI GS MEC 060 V4.1.1 (2026-04) Published
Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC); API Gateway for Client Applications
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ETSI GS MEC 009 V4.1.2 (2026-02) Published
Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC); General principles, patterns and common aspects of MEC Service APIs
Get involved
The various players in the value chain are invited to actively participate in MEC and to contribute to the development of the specifications based on industry consensus. It will ensure that the stakeholders are represented in this newly emerging ecosystem. The participants are encouraged to share best practices and demonstrate Proofs of Concepts (PoCs) and contribute to the various tasks of WG DECODE.
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