Mobile operators are intensely interested in the potential of edge compute. If they could integrate their network elements and sites (base stations, central offices) with edge compute nodes, they argue, they could take a premium role in the value chain for distributed cloud services. Their new mini-data centers would be well connected and numerous, so not only would they support enhanced services for the MNO’s own customers – better quality video delivered close to the user, low latency IoT applications – but they could be offered, for a fee, to partners with less easy access to distributed infrastructure and wireless connections. Cable operators, cities, even webscale providers might be customers. This vision was inherent in ETSI’s MEC (Multi-access Edge Compute,…