Qualcomm has launched a wireless networking platform with edge AI integration that it believes will transform how people experience their networks.

The Networking Pro A7 Elite leverages an AI co-processor with 40Tops of NPU processing power. The platform delivers elevated Wifi 7 connectivity and networking performance, while equipping connected devices with centralised generative AI processing capabilities.

This integration of computing power into the network unlocks opportunities for operators and enterprises to deploy applications and services in areas such as security and surveillance, energy management and automation, personalised virtual assistants, and aging in place and health monitoring.

Edge AI can enhance privacy by processing sensitive information on the gateway, while enabling personalisation through contextualised understanding of the environment and immediacy through near real-time responses. This approach unlocks the power of AI for more devices, even legacy ones, enabling a more reliable and harmonised user experience across connected devices.

“With the Networking Pro A7 Elite, we proudly launch the AI networking era, a continuation of our long focus on the most valuable applications and use cases for our customers and their users,” said Ganesh Swaminathan, vice president at Qualcomm. “The Networking Pro A7 Elite integrates key elements – from broadband to antenna – including 10G fibre, 5G, Ethernet, RF front-end modules and filters into one integrated platform. This class of gateways and routers brings transformative AI processing capabilities to not only manage the modern demands of the most dynamic Wifi 7 networks, but also give rise to a new generation of generative AI-powered services that can be more seamless, responsive, personalised and privacy-rich.”

The platform, designed with developers and ecosystem partners in mind, accelerates market entry and fosters AI-enhanced application development through access to the Qualcomm AI Hub (aihub.qualcomm.com) where developers can create applications and experiences.

This era of AI networking for wifi routers, mesh systems, broadband gateways and access points, fuelled by the Networking Pro A7 Elite, is already garnering industry support.

“Wifi access points are the gateways to the internet and are at the heart of connected experiences within the home,” said Phil Solis, research director at IDC. “It is exciting to see wifi gateways, like the Qualcomm Networking Pro A7 Elite platform, evolving into AI edge platforms. This transformation bridges the gap between cloud AI and on-device AI, paving the way for a new stage of innovation in smart-home devices, their user interfaces, integration and applications. This evolution also opens up new business models for service providers, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of home networking technology.”

The Networking Pro A7 (www.qualcomm.com/products/internet-of-things/networking/wi-fi-networks/networking-pro-series/qualcomm-networking-pro-a7-elite-platform) is sampling and was featured by Qualcomm (www.qualcomm.com) at the Network X show (networkxevent.com) in Paris this week.