Network as a Service
The Edge Compute Advantage: Turning Broadband Infrastructure Into Intelligence
Key Points
- The broadband industry’s existing infrastructure makes operators uniquely positioned to capitalize on edge computing.
- CableLabs is advancing edge deployment through standardization efforts including CAMARA Edge Cloud APIs, lab demonstrations and our Network as a Service working group.
- We invite interested members of our operator and vendor community to engage in this work by joining the Network as a Service Working Group, which meets next on January 21.
As AI workloads become more distributed and latency-sensitive, the network edge is emerging as a strategic differentiator for broadband operators. With infrastructure that already spans from customer premises equipment to headends and regional data centers, operators are uniquely positioned to host edge compute, including advanced edge AI, in ways that reduce cost, improve performance and unlock new revenue models.
At CableLabs, we've been exploring this evolution through hands-on research, standards engagement and lab-based proofs of concept. Our goal is to help the industry shape what comes next.
Why Edge Compute and Edge Hosting Matter Now
Our recent work demonstrates that many high-value AI workloads perform best when executed closer to where data is generated. Predictive network maintenance, for example, benefits from localized inference to detect RF impairments before customers experience issues. Edge-based video analytics enable real-time visual intelligence while keeping sensitive footage local for privacy and compliance.
These use cases are detailed in our Edge LLM Hosting paper and reinforce a central insight: the cable footprint is already an edge cloud, ready to be activated for modern applications.
Not every AI workload belongs at the edge. We're developing selection criteria to help operators evaluate where to place different workloads. The radar chart below shows how edge-based video analysis scores across these dimensions.
If you missed our SCTE TechExpo session on operationalizing edge-hosted AI, the recording is available on-demand.
CableLabs’ work in edge compute represents a critical component of the Technology Vision for the industry, specifically within the Platform Evolution vector. By building adaptable platforms through cloud-based virtualization, edge computing and converged provisioning systems, broadband operators gain the flexibility to deliver and enable new network services and applications that meet evolving customer needs.
Advancing Standardization and Real-World Deployments
To accelerate industry adoption, CableLabs continues contributing to the CAMARA Edge Cloud API work, providing a unified way for developers to discover operator edge capabilities and deploy edge applications and inference workloads to them. As operators evaluate how to expose compute resources, the Compute Services APIs offer a relevant reference point for shaping future offerings.
We've paired these standardization efforts with real implementations in CableLabs' 10G Lab, including demonstrations of portable AI workloads and CAMARA-aligned Edge Cloud APIs. Our members continue advancing production-readiness by virtualizing major network functions such as the CCAP/CMTS and CDN infrastructure. These are foundational steps toward flexible, cost-efficient compute services delivered directly from the operator network.
Partnering Through NaaS on Edge Compute
Our Network as a Service (NaaS) program brings these technical threads together. As operators consider how to productize edge compute, standardize APIs and scale AI workloads, CableLabs is expanding discussions within the NaaS Working Group. Another Technology Vision priority, NaaS helps advance the Differentiated Services vector, focusing on context-aware services that enable seamless user experiences and introduce new revenue opportunities for operators.
We're seeking member and vendor input on priorities ranging from monetizing low-latency compute to enabling partner ecosystems to enhancing operational efficiency through edge-deployed AI. We're also working on solutions for operators planning infrastructure refreshes and want to ensure their upgrades support emerging edge AI workloads.
Join the Conversation
Join us for the next NaaS monthly update on Wednesday, January 21. We'll share the latest progress, showcase demonstrations including our CAMARA Edge Cloud API work, and engage directly with members and vendors who are shaping the roadmap.
If you’re interested in this work, stay up to date by joining the working group, which is open to CableLabs member and vendor communities. Meeting details are available when you join the group.
Want to dive deeper into edge computing? Make plans to join us at CableLabs Tech Summit 2026 — April 27–29 in Westminster, Colorado. Tech Summit is an exclusive networking and knowledge-sharing event for our member operators and exhibiting vendor community, building upon the successful format of its predecessor, CableLabs Winter Conference.
In the session “Revolutionizing Customer Experience with Intelligence at the Edge,” we’ll explore what it really takes to deploy an edge application using open-source infrastructure. Register soon to join the conversation. When you complete your registration by January 31, you’ll receive an exclusive CableLabs YETI tumbler when you check in for the conference.
Have questions or want to learn more about edge computing? Contact me to discuss how this future-forward approach can fit into your network strategy.