During the World Broadband Association (WBBA) Broadband Development Congress (BDC) event in Paris, on 14th October 2025, the “AI for NET5.5G and NET5.5G for AI” whitepaper was published by Network Technology Working Group (WG4).
This whitepaper addresses how the Converged Cloud-Network architecture has to evolve and which functionalities are best available to leverage the new opportunities offered by the AI era.
According to OMDIA market analysis, the Telco AI Services Global Total Addressable Market is projected to grow from $19B in 2025 to $112B in 2030.
‘The benefits of AI-driven change are widely recognized and this answers the question of “WHY”, however the Industry is urgently seeking actionable AI frameworks answering the question of “HOW”. The communications industry, which includes telecom and cloud service providers, is developing strategic plans to promote innovation by harnessing the broad potential of AI trends such as generative AI (GenAI), edge AI, and agentic AI capabilities. This well-considered and timely whitepaper from WBBA Working Group 4 is based on the Net5.5G network architecture linking AI to ensure intelligent, resilient, secure, and optimized IP network performance.
Net5.5G R2 (Release 2) Architecture
In this regard, WBBA WG4 introduced the “AI wrapper” concept as an actionable AI Blueprint. It constitutes the cornerstone of the Net5.5G R2 (release 2) architecture (Whitepaper), using the Net5.5G Architecture (Release 1) as a proof ground to instantiate, operationalize, and mechanize this Actionable AI Blueprint (AI Wrapper) onto the following four AI Domains:
- AI-powered Campus Networks are being upgraded to 10Gbps, encompassing mobile broadband, home broadband, campus networks, and enterprise private lines. Wi-Fi 7/8 and experience-centric network architecture are essential for ensuring high-quality service in campus networks.
- AI-Powered Wide-Area Networks (WAN), including metro and core networks, must be upgraded to 400 or 800GE, incorporating Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6), network slicing and service awareness.
- AI-Powered Data Center Networks (DCN) also require upgrades to 800GE/1.6TE, network-scale load balancing and high reliability and resiliency.
- AI-Powered Autonomous Network: End-to-end network management creates an efficient digital map of the network, including data center networking (DCN), IP transport networks, and access networks.
This whitepaper is part of a wider project ongoing in WBBA WG4. Indeed, WBBA WG4 developed the “Net5.5G Toolkit” Framework, which serves as guidance to assist operators and other stakeholders in their deployment journey of the Net5.5G technologies scenarios and capabilities, to enter the AI Era under the best auspices. The WBBA WG4 also established the “Net5.5G Pioneer Program” for stakeholders who actively promote the Net5.5G, including the “Visionary Pioneers” for the industry leaders, “Region Pioneers” for countries with policy plans and “Business Pioneers” with commercial deployment. In this Net5.5G Pioneer Program, 22 case studies from 19 countries covering the five continents have been documented, as a significant contribution to the industry. The leading operators, such as Turk Telekom, Hongkong Telecom, KSA Salam, UAE e&, shared their vision on future-oriented Net5.5G IP 400GE/800GE converged transport network to enhance network performance and operational efficiency. The number of stakeholders joining the WBBA WG4 Net5.5G Pioneer Program is continuously growing. It constitutes a “Net5.5G Case Studies Knowledge Hub” of high interest to the industry.
You are welcome to download the whitepaper from WBBA Knowledge Center and invited to contribute to the next steps of the journey joining the WBBA WG4 activities.
