WBBA Launches AI-Net Certification for Data Communications
The World Broadband Association (WBBA) has launched the AI-Net certification to upgrade global data networks to meet artificial intelligence demands. The certification focuses on policy, ecosystems, and network intelligence.
The World Broadband Association (WBBA) officially launched the AI-Net certification on July 15, 2026, at the Asia-Pacific Broadband Development Summit in Bangkok. This new certification aims to guide global data communications networks toward more intelligent, AI-enabled architectures.
The development of the certification is tied to the increasing role of AI in the global economy. Traditional network metrics like bandwidth and coverage are no longer sufficient to describe national competitiveness in the intelligent era. AI-Net focuses on three new pillars: national policy guidance, collaborative industry ecosystems, and the penetration rate of Net5.5G.
The AI-Net certification addresses both macroeconomic and microeconomic dimensions. At the macroeconomic level, it evaluates national policy alignment and industry-building efforts, including contributions to global standards. On the microeconomic level, operators are assessed using the IP Network Development Index (IPDI), which measures network intelligence and Net5.5G deployment.
WBBA anticipates that AI-Net will foster more unified standards and help bridge the digital divide. The goal is to build an "AI-ready" network infrastructure that supports intelligent industry solutions toward 2030.