The strategic collaboration between Elewit and Nearby Computing is driving the deployment of 5G and smart asset management through Edge Computing. This way, they strengthen their market position and accelerate the development of advanced technological solutions that meet the growing demands for real-time connectivity and processing. This partnership was established through Elewit’s Corporate Venture Capital initiative, investing in Seed and Series A startups that strategically align with the company’s key challenges.

Nearby Computing emerged as a spin-off from the National Supercomputing Centre. This initiative focuses its work on automation solutions and the orchestration of the entire network ecosystem, whose primary strength is Edge Computing. The differentiating element of this solution is that data processing occurs near the point where the data is generated, instead of being sent to a centralised data centre or the cloud (Cloud Computing). Consequently, this reduces response times and saves bandwidth, among other benefits.

To take this technology even further, Nearby Computing has developed a software platform called NearbyOne. This Edge-to-cloud automation platform manages all network elements—infrastructure, connectivity, and application lifecycle—transparently from a single interface, centralising processes and optimising management. Moreover, it has two key components:

• A central controller, called NearbyController, which can be installed in the cloud or in a customer’s data centre.
• A set of software modules, called NearbyBlocks, which enable comprehensive and standardised management of relevant orchestration variables (telemetry, configuration, start/stop, etc.). Besides, the number of NearbyBlocks is unlimited, enhancing the possibilities for interoperability, unified management, and security.

This modular approach sets it apart from most alternative solutions currently available in the market.

Collaboration between Redeia and Nearby Computing

Elewit’s investment in Nearby Computing has also fostered synergies between the startup and Redeia companies, improving the group’s asset management in areas such as:

• Deep network insigh. Edge Computing allows real-time analysis of the network’s status based on a very high-frequency data stream (observability).
• Advanced security management. Massive data analysis must be performed at the data source to avoid overloading the data centre or the network.
• Mass equipment management. The ability to manage equipment at scale becomes technically and economically feasible through automation and orchestration processes.
• Generation of more valuable data for the electricity system manager.
• Efficient management of costly hardware resources.

One of the projects developed in collaboration with Hispasat focuses on extending 5G networks through satellite links. Merging Edge Computing with satellite telecommunications offers multiple benefits, such as deploying computing infrastructures in locations where there is no fixed or wireless terrestrial network communication. This is particularly useful, for instance, in the future rural deployment of roadside-connected infrastructures for supporting vehicles

Furthermore, there is significant potential for deploying applications on the satellite itself, using Edge Computing architecture, where the satellite moves from being merely a relay to performing data actions. Although a satellite is not physically close, it can conceptually take on this role as it sits one step before the cloud.

In this regard, Hispasat and Nearby Computing have developed a solution to meet the needs of remote locations, leveraging the potential of 5G networks and Edge Computing. Satellites allow critical applications to be deployed automatically in remote locations and managed from a central point, granting 5G network access to all users in the area under the same conditions as in a densely populated city.

In this way, users in remote locations can communicate with each other in optimal conditions, without latency. At the same time, they are also able to make calls to the rest of the global network via satellite connection.

Beyond project development, Elewit’s equity investment in Nearby Computing is especially beneficial for the company. This is due to the fact that Redeia’s expertise and resources, combined with Nearby Computing’s innovative offering, represent a significant boost in the international implementation and development of Edge Computing.