As part of CRN’s 2026 Edge Computing 100, here are 25 providers that are specializing in IoT and 5G services.
Artificial intelligence agents might have captured the imagination of workplaces worldwide, but demand for AI inferencing in private data centers and at the edge puts a new emphasis on solution provider growth opportunities in Internet of Things and 5G practices, as well as in choosing the right vendor partners.
The Global System for Mobile Communications Association expects almost 60 percent of all mobile connections to run on 5G by 2030, according to the GSMA’s 2026 annual report. Mobile technologies and services should contribute $11.3 trillion, or 8.4 percent, of the global gross domestic product by then, up from 6.4 percent of GDP in 2025.
In IoT, GSMA projects 25 billion new IoT connections added globally through 2035, with enterprises reaching a 69 percent share of those connections by then.
Private networks and 5G are expected to command 16 percent of total digital transformation expenditure through 2030, while IoT and big data analytics account for 13 percent.
As part of CRN’s 2026 Edge Computing 100, here are 25 technology giants and smaller vendors making waves with new capabilities in IoT and 5G services. Be sure to check out CRN’s entries for edge security and edge hardware, software and services.
Altair Semiconductor
Nohik Semel
CEO
Following its spinoff this year from Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Altair launched with $50 million in funding, positioning it as a major physical AI player. Its chipsets power a leading share of cellular smart meters and the Long-Term Evolution for Machines market, creating partner business potential in smart cities, energy, logistics, asset tracking and wearables.
AT&T
John Stankey
Chairman, CEO
AT&T expanded its fiber, 5G and spectrum footprint this year through its Lumen and EchoStar transactions. New services include the IoT Network Intelligence Standard for delivering 4G and 5G performance insight plus Dynamic Defense on AT&T Business Fiber for stronger connectivity and security options for small and midsize businesses, a popular client class for solution providers.
Belden
Ashish Chand
President, CEO
Belden expanded its IT and operational technology networking reach with its Ruckus acquisition this year. Its Wireless Orchestration controller centralizes enterprise and industrial access points, while the ProSoft Technology ELX3 ProLinx Edge Gateway combines protocol conversion and edge applications, giving integrators tools for connectivity, monitoring and machine-level analytics.
Cavli Wireless
John Mathew
Founder, CEO
Cavli Wireless expanded its portfolio with the CQM211 5G New Radio module for industrial IoT, surveillance and gateways, easing migrations from 4G LTE. Its AQ62 5G module targets connected vehicles and mobility, creating potential deployment opportunities for solution providers across industrial and transportation markets.
Celona
Rajeev Shah
Co-Founder, CEO
Celona plans to release Orion, an agentic converged wireless platform unifying private 5G, Wi-Fi, public cellular and satellite connectivity for physical and agentic AI. The vendor also improved resiliency for edge clusters, helping solution providers better navigate node failures and upgrades.
Cisco Systems
Chuck Robbins
Chair, CEO
Cisco launched the Cisco 360 Partner Program to better equip partners for AI-ready data centers, modern workplaces and digital resilience. Product updates include Silicon One G300 infrastructure for AI clusters, Webex AI agents and expanded Splunk capabilities for analyzing AI token spending. These and other Cisco innovations this year help widen partner opportunities across networking, collaboration, security and observability.
Digi International
Ron Konezny
President, CEO
Digi’s Particle acquisition amplified its edge-to-cloud portfolio and looks to reach another level through its planned purchase of Disruptive Technologies. New and expanded offerings include the EX60 router, Digi Artificial Network Intelligence network operations agent and ConnectCore 95 Smart Mobility Architecture System-on-Module Development Kit, adding to partner routes to market in branch offices, industrial sites and other environments.
EdgeQ
Vinay Ravuri
Founder, CEO
EdgeQ’s 4G and 5G base-station-on-a-chip technology gained momentum through new partnerships this year. Airspan Networks is using it in AirUnity small cells while Askey is applying it to ultra-low-power 5G femtocells for homes and enterprises, giving channel partners compact options for private and localized cellular deployments.
Ericsson
Per Narvinger
President, CEO
Ericsson demonstrated a 1-Tbps Core network supporting 1 million concurrent subscribers on Google Cloud this year. More demonstrations of the vendor’s technical might include new radio, antenna and software offerings for AI device monetization plus an AI radio access network software subscription aimed at improving efficiency, performance and energy consumption.
Extreme Networks
Ed Meyercord
President, CEO
Extreme Networks launched its Partner First program this year with revised rebates, deal approvals and benefits for solution providers. Product advances include Agent One Coworker for faster troubleshooting, Wi-Fi 7 Access Points for demanding venues and planned Exchange zones for running AI applications on-premises, supporting partners across networking, operations and edge computing.
Federated Wireless
Iyad Tarazi
Co-Founder, President, CEO
Federated Wireless launched Spectrum AI, a physical AI platform for shared-spectrum planning and coordination. The vendor also expanded its Automated Frequency Coordination platform to support approved geofenced variable power devices in the 6GHz band and updated its Adaptive Network Planner, promising partners tools for fixed wireless access, enterprise and shared-spectrum deployments.
Firecell
Claude Seyrat
CEO
Firecell merged with Accelleran this year, combining Firecell’s core network and network management system with Accelleran’s programmable RAN, management and AI capabilities. Its Pegasus Atlas Edition platform also now underpins three defense-focused private 5G offerings from Dfence Europe, expanding service play possibilities in secure wireless deployments.
Hitachi
Toshiaki Tokunaga
Representative Executive Officer, President, CEO
Hitachi seeks to become the “world’s leading practitioner of physical AI” with its HMAX software suite that brings AI computing to the edge. Earlier this year, the company unveiled a strategic partnership with Anthropic that will see Hitachi integrate Claude’s high-level reasoning capabilities into HMAX AI solutions for mission-critical environments.
Litmus
Vatsal Shah
Co-Founder, CEO
Litmus made Data Catalog generally available this year for metadata discovery and governance across operational technology and IT. It also connected Litmus Edge Bridge with Microsoft Azure Internet of Things Operations, added a direct serverless pipeline to Databricks Lakehouse and co-developed with Google Cloud an architecture that looks to streamline industrial edge-to-cloud projects.
Monogoto
Itamar Kunik
Co-Founder, CEO
Monogoto broadened its cloud cellular ecosystem through partnerships with Backpackster, Nordic Semiconductor and OQ Technology. The work connects advertising backpacks, advances nuSIM’s integrated subscriber identity module approach for IoT devices and adds low-Earth-orbit satellite coverage. This could give solution providers more connectivity choices across terrestrial and nonterrestrial deployments.
Nordic Semiconductor
Vegard Wollan
President, CEO
Nordic Semiconductor expanded its low-power wireless portfolio with the nRF54LC10A system-on-chip, nRF93M1 smart modem modules and nRF54L15 compact asset-tag platform. It also added AI-assisted development capabilities and broadened availability of its NPU hardware. These and other Nordic innovations are aimed at helping solution providers build smaller, secure and battery-efficient IoT solutions.
Rajant
Robert Schena
Co-Founder, Chairman, CEO
Rajant’s Platinum 100 Cryptographic Subsystem received National Security Agency certification to protect classified data through the SECRET level. The company also expanded defense, autonomous-systems and aerospace manufacturing in Kentucky and extended its Cowbell distributed edge execution fabric through a Videosoft partnership, creating options for solution provider upside in secure communications and edge workloads.
Semtech
Hong Hou
President, CEO
Semtech expanded LoRa Plus capabilities for IoT and moved its mobile transport portfolio into production to support 5G Advanced radio deployments. It also opened sampling of an optical-networking chipset line and introduced a linear Transimpedance Amplifier line for AI clusters, data centers and networking platforms.
Silicon Labs
Matt Johnson
President, CEO
Despite its pending acquisition by Texas Instruments, Silicon Labs continued significant product advancement this year. It expanded access to the Simplicity AI software development kit, introduced Simplicity Design Intelligence and increased availability of its BG2B Series 2 Bluetooth low-energy SoC, aiming to help developers build smaller, secure and power-efficient IoT devices.
Soracom
Ken Tamagawa
President, CEO
Soracom introduced an AI agent this year for the IoT project life cycle. The vendor also has a new suite of connected-vehicle management products and a real-time communication product, Air RTC Gateway, which links device voice to contact centers. It also advanced a cloud-native mobile core platform and an embedded subscriber identity module orchestration capability.
TDK
Noboru Saito
CEO, President
TDK expanded its edge portfolio through acquisitions of Fabric8Labs’ metal 3-D printing technology and OQmented’s microelectromechanical systems-based scanning technology. It also partnered with QD Laser on red-green-blue light modules and expanded its collection of sensors, protection components and development tools, opening up ways for solution providers to meet demand in smart glasses, automotive, industrial and other markets.
Telit Cinterion
Paolo Dal Pino
CEO
Telit Cinterion plans for an edge AI software development kit that runs machine learning models directly on module hardware without an external accelerator. It also expanded its U.S. manufacturing and launched the SE869eK2L single-frequency global navigation satellite system module, providing greater resiliency and an upgrade path for legacy positioning designs.
T-Mobile
Srini Gopalan
President, CEO
T-Mobile completed the sale of its 800MHz spectrum portfolio while expanding business internet ambitions with SuperBroadband. The offering combines its nationwide 5G Advanced network with SpaceX’s Starlink, giving channel partners a resilient connectivity option for distributed customers across the U.S. with managed services potential.
Verizon
Dan Schulman
CEO
Verizon streamlined its channel organization and signed a multibillion-dollar Corning fiber agreement. The vendor also expanded its 6G Innovation Forum, unveiled an AI- and drone-powered digital twin modeling system and has piloted autonomous-network agents, fueling new options for solution providers to consider across fiber and the edge.
Zebra Technologies
Bill Burns
CEO
Zebra Technologies divested its robotics automation business this year to focus on RFID, machine vision and frontline AI. New offerings include the KC401 kiosk, CV70 CoaXPress machine-vision camera, Nucleus device-management platform and Workcloud Business Intelligence. This portfolio could spell new workflow automation, inspection, device oversight and real-time operational analytics growth avenues for solution providers.
