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Accelerating Global Deployment of Net5.5G: Insights from WBBA's Whitepaper

During the Mobile World Congress (MWC) held in Barcelona in March 2025, the World Broadband Association (WBBA) took center stage, hosting a high-profile industry summit titled “Smarter Broadband: Investments, Innovations, and Intelligent Solutions.” A focal point of this summit was the publication of a new whitepaper outlining best practices in deploying Net5.5G, aiming to catalyze its commercial rollout across the globe.

The newly released whitepaper outlines a growing consensus within the global telecommunications community around Net5.5G as the next generation of network infrastructure. This marks an exciting time for innovators and businesses alike as they push forward towards a more connected future.

In June 2024, WBBA had laid the groundwork for this initiative with a previous publication, the “Evolution of Networks for the Era of 5.5G and 6G.” That document set forth a strategic plan for the evolution of network architecture, providing guidance on design, best practices, deployment pathways, and proof-of-concept results. The latest whitepaper builds on these foundations, showcasing rapid acceptance and integration of Net5.5G technologies across various continents, reaffirming its value and potential within the industry.

Global Case Studies Highlighted

The whitepaper enumerates 15 real-world cases from around the world, showcasing how different operators, enterprises, and governmental agencies are embracing Net5.5G. Each case study explains the background, critical technologies involved, business benefits, and solutions crafted for next-generation networks. For example:

• - Swisscom in Europe has leveraged Net5.5G to deliver high-quality, diversified services tailored for businesses, enhancing reliability and flexibility.
• - Zain KSA, a telecommunications operator in Saudi Arabia, upgraded its connections to 400GE using Net5.5G, thereby simplifying network connections.
• - Airtel in Nigeria adopted Net5.5G to enhance network performance while reducing operational and maintenance costs.
• - Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison in Indonesia used this new technology to improve the quality of digital services, expediting time to market and seizing new business opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Defining the New Era

To address the new demands of the intelligent age, the whitepaper introduces four novel connectivity scenarios: computational connections, solution-oriented smart connections, data connections, and aerial space connections. It also identifies four pivotal technologies within Net5.5G, including ultra-broadband connectivity, advanced IPv6 capabilities, autonomous driving networks, and integrated security measures.

By utilizing AI-powered routers, fresh AI connectivity at the network layer, and operational AI agents, Net5.5G is proving vital in the creation of state-of-the-art 10GE campus networks, high-capacity intelligent transport networks, and efficient data center networks. These cutting-edge technologies are designed not only to reduce operational costs but also to boost revenue and efficiency, paving the way for innovative business avenues.

The whitepaper confronts the outlined KPIs and achievements of the Net5.5G Pioneer Program initiated by WBBA. Launched in November 2024, this initiative has made significant strides globally, fostering a wave of visionaries and regional pioneers, all striving to upgrade Net5.5G standards and enhance regional network infrastructure.

Expectations for the program are ambitious; by 2027, WBBA aims to include 100 visionary pioneers, 100 regional pioneers, and 100 business pioneers. The ultimate goal is for Net5.5G technology to yield widespread benefits for major global operators and enterprises.

A Call for Collaboration

In conclusion, the WBBA emphasizes the need for more collaboration among industry organizations, standardization bodies, governmental agencies, operators, enterprises, and device vendors. Strengthening partnerships will be crucial to fostering Net5.5G innovations in technical standards, policies, and commercial practices. The release of this whitepaper lays a solid foundation for expediting the commercial implementation of Net5.5G, ensuring a robust industrial ecosystem. As we step into the intelligent era, Net5.5G will enable customers to harness the power of digital transformation, ultimately leading to greater business success through its technical advantages and innovative capabilities.

For more information, download the complete whitepaper here.