WBBA Launches AI-Net Certification for Global Data Networks

The World Broadband Association (WBBA) officially launched AI-Net, a global certification system for data communications, in Bangkok on July 15, 2026. This initiative, announced at the Asia-Pacific Broadband Development Summit, is designed for government administrations and telecommunications operators worldwide.

AI-Net aims to accelerate the global digital infrastructure's evolution from "All-Cloud" to "All-Intelligence." The certification focuses on three key areas: national development strategies and policies, industrial ecosystem cooperation, and the level of Net5.5G technology deployment. WBBA believes this program will help countries assess their technological maturity and align development strategies with industry potential.

The certification embodies a dual perspective: "Network for AI" emphasizes networks as the foundation for AI development, requiring high and predictable quality, while "AI for Network" integrates AI directly into network devices and management platforms for autonomous, self-optimizing network operations.

AI-Net evaluates digital network and ecosystem development from both macro and microeconomic viewpoints. At the macro level, it examines national policies and international cooperation. At the micro level, WBBA's IP Network Development Index (IPDI) is used to assess operators' network intelligence and Net5.5G technology implementation.