Akamai Technologies has unveiled plans to integrate cloud computing capabilities into its extensive edge network, marking a significant step in its strategy to establish itself as the preferred cloud computing platform for enterprises seeking to deploy workloads in proximity to users, devices, and data sources.
This move aligns with Akamai’s broader mission to play a pivotal role in enterprise multicloud environments. The company envisions a new breed of clouds designed to meet the requirements of modern applications, emphasizing higher performance, lower latency, and true global scalability – features not adequately provided by current cloud architectures.
The Generalized Edge Compute (Gecko) program is at the forefront of Akamai’s strategy, aiming for a rapid and practical rollout. In its initial phase, Akamai plans to embed computational capabilities, including support for virtual machines, in 100 cities by the end of the year. Throughout 2024, the company has already launched new Gecko-architected regions in various global locations, with plans for further deployment in Santiago, Chile, by the end of the first quarter.
Gecko underscores Akamai’s commitment to accelerating the distribution of its cloud computing platform globally. This initiative is timely, considering a 2023 study by ClearPath Strategies indicating that two-thirds of IT decision-makers anticipate an increase in their use of distributed cloud services in the coming year. Distributed cloud services, with the ability to process and analyze AI and machine learning data efficiently, are deemed critical by over a third of respondents to their IT strategies.
Akamai has conducted early trials of Gecko with enterprise customers, identifying prime positions for those involved in AI inferencing, multiplayer gaming, streaming media, and social media to capitalize on its capabilities. The company envisions future use cases in immersive retail, spatial computing, data analytics, and consumer and industrial Internet of Things.
Dr. Tom Leighton, Co-Founder and CEO of Akamai, sees Gecko as a groundbreaking development, stating, “It’s the next phase of the roadmap towards a more connected cloud we laid out when we acquired Linode to add cost-effective, cloud-native computing capabilities to our portfolio.” Gecko combines the computing power of Akamai’s cloud platform with the proximity and efficiency of the edge, bringing workloads closer to users than other cloud providers.
Gecko is designed to merge generalized compute with Akamai’s extensive global network, shifting traditionally centralized heavy compute to the edge of Akamai’s network. This approach enables customers to move workloads closer to their users, bridging the gap between conventional cloud and edge networks.
According to Dave McCarthy of IDC, Akamai’s integration of compute into its security and delivery mix, following its acquisition of Linode, aligns with the evolving trend toward a more distributed cloud world. This evolution is driven by the demand to position compute and data closer to the edge, a trend exemplified by what Akamai is achieving with Gecko.
