A telecommunications edge cloud (TEC) element deployed between a client and a packet network includes a TEC hardware layer including storage resources, networking resources, and computing resources, wherein the computing resources include a plurality of processors. A TEC operating system (TECOS) is coupled to the TEC hardware layer and configured to control and manage the storage resources, the networking resources, and the computing resources, wherein the TECOS is executed by one of the processors, a TEC application layer coupled to the TECOS, wherein the TEC application layer is configured to process a request from the client using the TECOS, wherein the computing resources are configured to provide a service to the client when the request is a service request, and wherein at least one of the networking resources and the storage resources is configured to provide data to the client when the request comprises a data request.