This is a summary of the AI Networking Summit – New York session moderated by Tony Farinacci, ONUG CTO and Managing Director, CTO, CISO, Distinguished Architect JPMorgan Chase (retired). This session introduces ONUG’s AI-Enabled WAN Connectivity API initiative: a collaborative, enterprise-driven effort to build an open API framework for automating WAN services procurement.

The landscape of Wide Area Network (WAN) connectivity procurement has long been characterized by inefficiency, manual processes, and significant friction. For decades, businesses have grappled with archaic methods, often involving lengthy sales cycles, complex negotiations, and disparate systems for managing carrier relationships and services. However, a new initiative, the AI-Enabled WAN Connectivity API Workgroup, is poised to transform this experience, promising a future of automated discovery, streamlined procurement, and optimized network management.

The core motivation behind this workgroup stems from a shared frustration with traditional telco procurement. As one speaker highlighted, the process of onboarding dozens of carriers every time an organization moves or expands is a “large amount of pain.” The need for low-latency paths between any two points, especially in sectors like electronic trading, further accentuates the demand for a more agile and efficient system. The workgroup’s origin lies in the vision of a common API framework, a solution that garnered “immediate traction” due to its potential to revolutionize the industry.

The current procurement process is described as “antiquated,” largely “sales-driven,” and an “arcane practice.” The goal of the AI-Enabled WAN Connectivity API Workgroup is to “expedite that process through and through.” Traditionally, this involves a multi-step journey from discovery to fulfillment. While the later stages of this process (steps four, five, and six) are somewhat mature due to third-party providers like Connect Base, the initial discovery and negotiation phases are ripe for disruption.

Connect Base, a 10-year-old company, is a key partner in this endeavor. Their mission is to “transform how the connected world gets bought and sold,” particularly addressing the “friction and chaos” inherent in the service provider side. Connect Base achieves this through a market data platform that establishes “location truth across the industry,” connecting over 430 providers globally. Their API-centric platform, traditionally wholesale-centric, is now being leveraged to empower enterprises directly.

The collaboration with Connect Base has enabled the workgroup to develop a system that addresses many of the defined requirements. While still a “work in progress,” the system aims to tackle the entire lifecycle of WAN connectivity, from order placement to installation. The vision is to reduce procurement times from “days and weeks” to “minutes,” although complex installations requiring construction will still have their inherent timelines.

The demo showcased the system’s capabilities, allowing users to add and validate locations, view on-net and internet providers, and access fiber route information. A crucial feature is the ability to leverage AI to recommend the best supplier based on user-defined priorities such as cost or reliability. This AI, powered by Gemini in the backend, analyzes Connect Base’s extensive data to provide intelligent recommendations.

Beyond initial procurement, the platform aims to provide comprehensive contract management, spend trajectory analysis, and optimization insights. By comparing existing contracts against market rates and identifying underutilized circuits, the system intends to help companies “save a lot of money.” The goal is to offer “actionable steps” to reduce spend, with one example highlighting a potential 32% reduction in telecom costs previously achieved through diligent optimization.

The workgroup is actively seeking “additional design partners” to evolve the system, with a broad launch targeted for Q1. The intent is to make the tool freely available to the community, emphasizing ease of use through modern web and mobile interfaces. The discussion also touched upon the importance of community feedback for rating supplier performance, akin to a “Yelp-style” review system, to further enhance the platform’s value.

The AI-Enabled WAN Connectivity API Workgroup represents a significant leap forward in addressing the inefficiencies of WAN procurement. By combining robust data from partners like Connect Base with AI-driven insights and a user-centric design, the initiative promises a more transparent, efficient, and cost-effective future for enterprise network connectivity.