Startup EdgeQ Offers 5G and AI for the Edge

Author photo: Chantal Polsonetti
ByChantal Polsonetti
Category:
Company and Product News

A new startup has emerged from stealth mode with a design that converges 5G connectivity and AI compute onto a system-on-a-chip (SoC) that's aimed at edge networks. Founded in 2018, EdgeQ was launched by former executives at Broadcom, Intel, and Qualcomm and has racked up $51 million in funding.

EdgeQ's AI-5G SoC is aimed at 5G private wireless networks for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).  EdgeQ says its chip will allow enterprises in manufacturing, energy, automotive, telco and other verticals to harness private networking for disruptive applications, intelligent services, and new business models.

The company states that today's connectivity and compute constructs are based on legacy networks that are largely closed and monolithic.  This fixed hardware can no longer scale efficiently and economically to support 5G service-oriented applications.

The software defined SoC is intended to replace existing wireless and legacy networks with edge components that can be used to build 5G spectrum private wireless networks, the networking equivalent of a private clouds.  The AI portion allows for processing massive amounts of data coming in from a variety of feeds and enabling real-time processing at the edge rather than sending it back to a data center.

EdgeQ will deliver a converged 5G and AI silicon platform that is open and software programmable for both devices and edge infrastructure.  By introducing open programmability to the baseband, EdgeQ provides a new software-driven development model for OEMs and operators that can support existing cellular protocols, such as 4G, 5G and beyond.

ARC’s recently-completed Industrial Cellular Routers Global Market Research report concludes that 5G and private wireless both promise significant incremental connectivity performance improvements to support emerging Industrial IoT, Industry 4.0, and edge computing approaches as well as the shift toward increased automation and autonomous operations.  This report includes competitive analysis plus five-year market forecasts by world region, industry, new vs. retrofit, fixed vs. mobile, cellular technology, public vs. private, CPU type, operating system, edge-to-cloud integration, edge computing capability, form factor, environmental rating, industry-specific certifications (Class 1 Div 2, IEC 61850-3,  EN50155), sales channel, and customer type.  Further information is available here.

Engage with ARC Advisory Group

Representative End User Clients
Representative Automation Clients
Representative Software Clients