The exponential growth of AI-generated traffic is placing new and unique demands on network infrastructure. Artificial intelligence (AI) applications, particularly generative artificial intelligence (genAI), present distinctive characteristics that demand more bandwidth and stability from enterprise networks. Converged connectivity that integrates fiber, 5G and satellite links in an active-active configuration can help solve these challenges for enterprises and present monetization opportunities for telecommunications providers.

The unique AI traffic profile

Generative and agentic AI traffic behaves fundamentally differently from traditional applications. Take the example of web traffic, which typically features small upload queries and large download responses. Generative AI-driven traffic flips this model on its head, burdening enterprise network infrastructure with patterns it was not designed for.

According to telemetry data from thousands of VeloCloud Edges, Genai applications are generating unprecedented amounts of upstream traffic—approximately 40% of total traffic volume and growing. This dramatic shift stems from three key factors:

1. Multimodality: Modern AI systems process and generate not just text but images, audio, and video, significantly increasing bandwidth requirements.
2. Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG): Enterprise endpoints now send substantial volumes of context data upstream to AI models, which process this information before returning results.
3. Agent-to-agent interactions: As AI systems evolve toward agentic behavior, peer-to-peer interactions between automated systems require stable, low-latency connections for successful operation.

AI traffic also demonstrates much greater burstiness than traditional application patterns, with sudden spikes in bandwidth requirements that can overwhelm static network configurations.

What enterprises need: Application-level network convergence

The increasing prevalence of AI applications means enterprises can no longer rely on traditional approaches to network design. Traditional methods include dedicating specific underlays to specific applications or implementing active-standby configurations where secondary connections remain unused until primary links fail.

To maximize the benefits of both AI and non-AI applications, enterprises require:

● Active-active connectivity: Multiple network underlays working simultaneously to provide optimal application performance, rather than keeping expensive backup links idle. Congestion on the primary link often results in poor application experience, where a secondary link could help transport business-critical traffic.

● Application-based traffic shaping: The ability to prioritize network resources at a granular level, ensuring critical applications receive the bandwidth, latency, and reliability they need.

● Enhanced coverage: Wireless solutions, through technologies like Fixed-wireless access (FWA) and satellite (particularly low earth orbit satellites), extend connectivity to locations where traditional fixed lines aren't available.

The ultimate goal is to provide the best possible network connection for each application on an individual basis. This approach dramatically improves user experience and ensures enterprises extract maximum business value from their technology investments.

The telco opportunity: Monetizing network convergence

For telecommunications providers, the rise of AI-driven traffic represents an opportunity to drive incremental revenue growth and increase the value of their 5G and other network investments.

Despite substantial investment in 5G infrastructure, many service providers have struggled to monetize these investments effectively, particularly in the enterprise space. Similarly, although satellite connectivity has seen rapid adoption, it has often been positioned as a backup or fill-in technology rather than a primary revenue driver.

By offering converged solutions that integrate multiple access technologies—fiber, 5G, and satellite—telecommunications companies can create premium service tiers that command higher margins while delivering value to enterprise customers.

This convergence allows service providers to differentiate their offerings beyond basic connectivity, increase average revenue per account, and build deeper relationships with enterprise customers. Additionally, it enables them to create new service categories focused on application performance while maximizing returns on their existing network investments.

VeloSky: Enabling true network convergence

VeloSky is a purpose-built solution for service providers to deploy as an enhanced access solution for their enterprise customers.

Key features include:

· Hardware and software approach: VeloSky is a single appliance featuring built-in 5G connectivity and Ethernet handoff capabilities with sophisticated traffic management software. This integration greatly simplifies management, eliminating the need for enterprises to purchase and manage multiple devices for different connectivity types.

· Dynamic Application-Based Slicing: At the heart of VeloSky is Dynamic Application-Based Slicing (DABS), which enables application-level network prioritization with or without traditional network slicing technology. DABS identifies application types—including AI workloads and agent-to-agent interactions—and creates optimized paths through available network resources.

· AI-powered channel estimation: VeloSky employs machine learning techniques to predict network performance without consuming bandwidth for continuous active probing. This allows the system to optimize traffic routing in real-time based on actual network conditions.

· Enhanced security: The solution includes a stateful firewall integrated directly into the appliance, along with segmentation capabilities to narrow potential attack surfaces. This approach ensures consistent protection regardless of how traffic enters the corporate environment.

· Global scale: With support for over 2,000 gateways and 200 points of presence worldwide, VeloSky offers global coverage for multinational enterprises, allowing service providers to deliver consistent experiences across geographies.

· Rapid deployment: VeloSky can be deployed in minutes rather than days, making it suitable for both permanent installations and temporary use cases such as pop-up retail locations, construction sites, and rural infrastructure projects.

As AI applications continue to reshape network traffic patterns, both enterprises and telecommunications providers face a pivotal moment. For enterprises, the challenge lies in adapting network infrastructure to meet the unique demands of these applications. For service providers, the opportunity is to move beyond commodity connectivity and deliver value-added services that directly impact business outcomes.

Through solutions like VeloSky that enable true network convergence at the application layer, telecommunications companies can monetize their investments in next-generation access technologies while helping their enterprise customers maximize the return on their AI initiatives.