Broadcom Accelerates Enterprise Edge AI Capabilities with New Innovations

Broadcom Inc., following its recent acquisition of VMware, today unveiled advancements in its Software-Defined Edge portfolio aimed at helping enterprises optimize Edge AI workloads. These new features enhance connectivity, deployment, and lifecycle management, including:

• Support for combined Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and satellite connections in the VMware VeloCloud Edge 710 appliance, along with the introduction of the new VMware VeloCloud Edge 720 and 740 appliances.
• Enhanced VMware VeloCloud SASE, now integrated with Symantec points of presence (PoPs), for improved security.
• Upgrades to the VMware Edge Compute Stack to support advanced edge computing needs.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) projects that global spending on edge computing will reach $232 billion in 2024, marking a 15.4% increase from 2023. Edge computing is becoming central to the deployment of AI applications. In response, Broadcom is evolving its software-defined edge offerings to empower enterprises to handle the increasing demand for AI and non-AI workloads at the edge. 

Unlike traditional IT workloads, which are centralized in data centers, Edge AI workloads such as video inference cameras, industrial control systems, and other operational technology (OT) devices are deployed at local sites. These workloads operate autonomously, are orchestrated rather than manually managed, process data where it's generated, and are driven by business needs. Broadcom's innovations help businesses improve operations, cut costs, boost sales, and ensure compliance through the effective use of Edge AI.

Broadcom defines the software-defined edge as a distributed digital infrastructure designed to connect, secure, and manage workloads across multiple locations, positioned close to the endpoints generating or consuming data. This infrastructure extends to where users and devices are located—whether in offices, on the go, at cell sites, in retail environments, or on factory floors. 

Broadcom addresses the three key layers of the software-defined edge:

• Edge Compute Stack - Hosts applications and workloads at the edge.
• Intelligent Overlay - Manages connectivity and security services across the WAN.
• Underlay Network Layer - Facilitates network connectivity through fixed and 5G networks, enabling orchestration and network programmability.

“We’re focused on enabling enterprises to adopt Edge AI workloads,” said Sanjay Uppal, vice president and general manager, Software-Defined Edge Division, Broadcom. “We’ve announced support for Fixed Wireless Access and satellite connections in VMware VeloCloud Edge to deliver critical, blended connectivity for OT devices as well as AI and non-AI edge workloads. We uniquely offer enterprises a good, better, best approach to connectivity at the edge by allowing them to tweak real-time WAN performance, gain insights from the network, and program the network. This convergence of the underlay network enables enterprises to build networks in minutes to support today’s and tomorrow’s workloads.”

Integrated Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and Satellite Support for Enhanced Edge AI Connectivity

To meet the growing demand for reliable connectivity supporting edge computing and Edge AI workloads, Broadcom today announced upgrades to the VMware VeloCloud Edge 710 appliance and introduced the new VMware VeloCloud Edge 720 and 740 appliances. The VeloCloud Edge 710 now offers enterprises a combination of broadband, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), and satellite connections to significantly enhance real-time voice, video, and application traffic—delivering improved connectivity at the edge. This hybrid connectivity ensures redundant, always-on service for edge devices and workloads.

Additionally, Communication Service Providers (CSPs) can leverage the VeloCloud Edge 710, 720, and 740 appliances to modernize their infrastructure and offer a premium, integrated SD-WAN, FWA, and satellite solution to enterprise customers. By running both VeloCloud SD-WAN and VMware Telco Cloud Platform, CSPs can program their WAN's real-time performance using insights from their networks.

PoP Integration Enhances Enterprise Cloud Connectivity

Broadcom also announced the integration of VeloCloud SD-WAN points of presence (PoPs) with Symantec PoPs to improve cloud connectivity for enterprises. This integration automates cloud access while maintaining high performance and security. Customers of VeloCloud SASE, Secured by Symantec, will experience greater bandwidth, availability, lower latency, and global reach to leading cloud and SaaS providers. Earlier this year, Broadcom introduced VeloCloud SASE, secured by Symantec, a single-vendor SASE solution combining VeloCloud SD-WAN and Symantec Security Service Edge (SSE), offering significant benefits to both VeloCloud and Symantec customers.

Simplifying Edge AI Workload Deployment and Lifecycle Management

The distributed nature of the edge poses challenges for enterprises and their IT teams, from managing edge devices and applications to overseeing infrastructure across multiple, often hundreds or thousands of, locations. To address this, enterprises are investing in solutions that enable zero-touch provisioning and application lifecycle management, simplifying the deployment of secure edge environments. VMware Edge Compute Stack, an edge-optimized runtime and orchestration platform, offers seamless management of edge apps and infrastructure across resource-limited sites. In its latest two releases, VMware Edge Compute Stack introduced essential features for managing infrastructure and Edge AI applications, including Small Language Models (SLMs), at dispersed locations efficiently.

Zero-Touch Orchestration for Simplified Edge AI Deployment

VMware Edge Cloud Orchestrator streamlines the deployment and lifecycle management of applications across multiple sites by utilizing GitOps and desired state management. By automating these processes, enterprises can maintain consistent and efficient operations, even with limited IT resources.

Pull-Based Architecture: Hosts initiate communication with the management plane to maintain connection and retrieve configuration updates. This reduces the load on the management plane, enabling it to scale more effectively.

Edge Infrastructure and Application Monitoring: The platform configures the collection and transmission of metrics for infrastructure, virtual machines, and Kubernetes-based workloads. With a sample implementation of industry-standard monitoring tools and pre-built dashboards, enterprises can achieve comprehensive local edge monitoring in minutes.

These features make it easier for enterprises to deploy and manage Edge AI workloads, helping them quickly realize the business value of their Edge AI investments. The latest release of VMware Edge Compute Stack 3.6 introduces additional features that further simplify edge deployment and management at scale.