Multi-operator mec sharing based on user equipment location

A network device, comprising:

• at least one communication interface configured to receive, via a first wireless network operated by a first network operator, a first location of a user equipment device (UE) connected to a first radio access network (RAN) of the first network operator, and a second location of a first Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) data center operated by a second network operator of a second wireless network associated with a second RAN;
• a processor or logic configured to:
• perform at least one of:
• determine a closest gateway or user plane function (UPF) to the first MEC data center within the first wireless network;
• or
• deploy a Virtual Network Function (VNF) in a hosting center that is close to the first MEC data center;
• and
• set up, in the first wireless network, a connection between at least one of:
• the determined closest gateway or UPF and the first MEC data center, or
• the deployed VNF and the first MEC data center, to enable the UE to access an application service hosted by the first MEC data center via a network session with the first wireless network using the connection to the first RAN.

A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by a network device with one or more processors, wherein execution of the instructions cause the network device to:

• receive, at the network device in a first wireless network operated by a first network operator, a first location of a user equipment device (UE) connected to a first radio access network (RAN) of the first network operator, and a second location of a first Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) data center operated by a second network operator of a second wireless network associated with a second RAN;
• perform at least one of:
• determining, by the network device, a closest gateway or user plane function (UPF) to the first MEC data center within the first wireless network;
• or
• deploying a Virtual Network Function (VNF) in a hosting center that is close to the first MEC data center;
• and
• set up, by the network device in the first wireless network, a connection between at least one of:
• the determined closest gateway or UPF and the first MEC data center, or
• the deployed VNF and the first MEC data center, to enable the UE to access an application service hosted by the first MEC data center via a network session with the first wireless network using the connection to the first RAN.