Charter Communications’ Spectrum Enterprise unit has delivered a proof of concept at the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) conference in Los Angeles, showing how artificial intelligence, machine learning and internet of things can be combined into a solution that can predict network demand.

The proof of concept depicts a smart sporting venue with an intelligence and autonomous software defined, wide area network (SD-WAN). Using a network analytics engine based on AI and machine learning that continuously ingests data from IoT devices, the network dynamically flexes across dimensions including capacity, performance and software resources.

This flexing of the SD-WAN network ensures that the proper level of WiFi speed, security and application performance are provided to guests.

Technology partners included in Charter’s PoC include Equinix, Nefeli Networks, Nokia and Vitria Technology. The PoC is being delivered at the sixth annual MEF 3.0 Proof of Concept Showcase from Tuesday through Thursday.

“By bringing together capabilities such as intent-based networking, automated service orchestration, AI/ML and IoT, we are able to demonstrate how dynamic network services can be offered to enterprises to solve unique business challenges,” said Satya Parimi, group vice president of enterprise data products for Spectrum Enterprise.

Charter Communications has announced the national launch of managed SD-WAN services through its Spectrum Enterprise unit.

The move comes nearly two years after the Comcast put managed software defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) services into beta. AT&T, which Charter competes with in its footprint, has also been offering these enterprise services for some time.

Charter said its services covers the entire implementation—from solution design and installation to portal-based network visibility, as well as monitoring and support.

The Spectrum Enterprise service is available in a number of configurations, including Layer 3, Layer 2 and Hybrid iterations. An integrated virtual security service is also available for clients who want to enable security internet access with their managed SD-WAN service.

The service leverages technologies from Cisco (services orchestration), Fortinet (virtual security), Netcracker (VNF management) and Nokia’s Nuage Networks (SD-WAN Technology).

“Our new Managed SD-WAN service delivers on our promise of choice and flexibility by enabling enterprises to grow and evolve their networks via our next-generation SDN/NFV platform,” said Greg King, senior VP of product, marketing and strategy for Spectrum Enterprise, in a statement. “Not only does this platform allow clients to securely integrate existing network sites and SD-WAN sites, it also enables us to rapidly deploy new capabilities for additional use cases and future network solutions.”

Charter is already touting an SD-WAN integration it performed in Texas—pretty close to AT&T’s Dallas headquarters—for the public safety office for the Town of Addison.

“As we worked with Spectrum Enterprise through the field trial, we appreciated how they incorporated our feedback into their Managed SD-WAN service,” said Hamid Khaleghipour, Interim deputy city manager and executive director of business performance and innovation for the Town of Addison. “We are excited by the availability of a WAN solution that lets us choose an Ethernet service or an SD-WAN with Ethernet stitching capability to build and migrate to next gen services at our own pace.”

Looking to punch up its ability to go up-market with commercial services, Comcast Business said it is beta testing a new software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) platform for mid-sized and enterprise-level customers.

Comcast said the beta platform, developed in partnership with Versa Networks and its Cloud IP Platform, will enable it to match gigabit-class speeds with the agility of software-defined networks that likewise steer it away from purpose-built hardware and put more emphasis on areas such as centralized network policy management and components that will drive more efficiency and simplicity into the network. Comcast unveiled the trial in tandem with this week’s Interop ITX show in Las Vegas.

“Our SD-WAN solution pairs a carrier-grade, hosted SDN environment with widely available gigabit service," Kevin O’Toole, senior vice president of product management for Comcast Business, said in a statement. "Together, our SD-WAN and gigabit bandwidth solutions herald a new generation of networking that provides the bandwidth, scalability, reliability and flexibility needed to power the cloud applications that are transforming business operations."

Comcast Business said the SD-WAN beta trial will continue throughout the summer, and expects to follow with a full market launch later this year.

Comcast Business also noted that it’s rolling out Business Internet 1000, a DOCSIS 3.1-based gigabit internet service, for commercial customers.

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The SD-WAN product will help Comcast Business as it continues to go up-market and pursue larger commercial customers while putting more competitive heat on incumbent telcos.

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Comcast’s business services unit delivered $1.5 billion in revenues in Q1, up 13.6%, with about 70% of its revenue and 60% of its growth still coming way of the small business sector.

Comcast also posted a video with O’Toole that provides more detail about the SD-WAN strategy: