Network operators deploy edge computing zones in their networks to bring content and compute closer to user’s connected devices. This can reduce latency, jitter and loss; and can ensure data communication stays within a given territory. The Simple Edge Discovery API returns the name of the edge cloud zone with the shortest network path to a given end user device. You can use this information to connect the user device to an application server you already have running on this edge cloud zone or spin up an application server there if required (using the edge cloud provider’s APIs). The following use cases are listed as examples:

• Content Delivery: Optimizing content delivery by directing traffic to the nearest edge cloud zone.
• Gaming: Reducing latency for online gaming by connecting users to the closest edge cloud zone.
• IoT Applications: Enhancing the performance of IoT devices by ensuring they connect to the nearest edge cloud zone.

Applications that have strict network performance demands can benefit from deploying servers at the network edge, as can applications that wish to prevent their data from being routed on the public Internet. Operational efficiency for the API customer (cost savings) is also benefit.