The framework, unveiled at the Asia-Pacific Broadband Development Summit in Bangkok, is designed to guide national policy and operator upgrades as networks shift from connectivity toward AI-ready infrastructure.
The World Broadband Association launched AI-Net, a global certification framework for countries and telecom operators, at the Asia-Pacific Broadband Development Summit in Bangkok on July 16, 2026. WBBA positioned the program as a milestone for digital infrastructure, aimed at helping networks move beyond connectivity-led architectures toward intelligent networks as industries adopt Net5.5G. The certification is built around three priorities: national policy frameworks, industry ecosystem collaboration and Net5.5G penetration. WBBA said the assessment is highly quantitative and is intended to accelerate global Net5.5G deployment by aligning top-level policy with industrial ecosystem development and mapping technology maturity in a systematic way. AI-Net has two core dimensions. “Network for AI” frames telecom infrastructure as the foundation for intelligent computing rather than only a transmission layer, emphasizing predictable performance such as high throughput, zero packet loss and ultra-low latency to support AI model training and inference. “AI for Network” focuses on embedding AI into devices and management platforms so networks can shift from passive routing to cognitive systems with self-healing and continuous self-optimization, supporting highly automated operations, agentic operations and maintenance, and AN L4. WBBA said the evaluation spans macroeconomic and microeconomic factors. At the national level, it reviews policy alignment and ecosystem-building, including top-level frameworks covering Net5.5G, IPv6 and intelligent networks, as well as contributions to international standards and cooperation across the ecosystem. At the operator level, it uses the IP Network Development Index, or IPDI, introduced by WBBA at MWC to assess live-network intelligence and the deployment density of Advanced IP and Net5.5G. The scope also extends to end-to-end digital infrastructure, including highly interconnected data center networks and integrated intrinsic security systems. WBBA said that broader approach is meant to reflect both a country’s strategic planning and operators’ ability to deliver highly secure network capabilities for sectors such as automated logistics, smart retail and smart cities. The association said it plans to use AI-Net to build global consensus among policymakers, standards bodies and leading telecom operators, accelerate uniform standards and help narrow the digital divide as part of its Network 2030 vision.