10 Hot Edge Computing Companies You Should Watch In 2023

From private 5G, SASE and IoT upstarts that are carving out their own niches at the edge, to the networking incumbents getting in on the action, here are 10 of the hottest edge computing companies that solution providers should keep their eyes on this year.

Edge computing has blown up over the last several years as trends like remote work, Internet of Things (IoT), and AR/VR drove the need for connectivity at the edge of the network and brand-new applications. Now, edge deployments can be found nearly everywhere and are addressing a variety of use cases across a number of verticals.

In fact, research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts that global enterprise and service provider spending on hardware, software, and services for edge solutions is expected to sustain a strong pace of growth through 2025 when spending will reach nearly $274 billion.

Companies like longtime networking and telecom service providers are getting in on the action with wireless and connectivity solutions aimed at powering and securing applications at the edge of the network. At the same time, 5G, IoT, and secure access service edge (SASE), have given rise to a new generation of startups that are tackling application development, as well as those that are getting creative with connectivity, automation, and data collection – and making sense of the influx of new data coming in from the edge.

From upstarts that are carving out their own niches at the edge, to the networking and telecom players that have years of IT experience, here are 10 of the hottest edge computing companies that solution providers should keep their eyes on this year.

Aarna Networks

Aarna Networks, founded in 2018, is on a mission to simplify edge orchestration for enterprises in the form of private 5G and enterprise edge computing application automation software. Aarna Edge Services, its SaaS platform, provides zero-touch orchestration as a service for edge infrastructure and public clouds. Aarna Edge Services supports compute, storage and network from the edge to the cloud.

The San Jose, Calif.-based startup’s primary go-to-market is through channel partners. Aarna has raised a total of $3.5M in funding with its latest funding raised in December 2021 from a seed round.

Adaptiv Networks

Smart business connectivity provider Adaptiv Networks comes to market with its cloud-managed SD-WAN service: Adaptiv Enterprise Connect. The offering lets enterprises target new applications and users at the edge while delivering exceptional user experiences across all business cloud services and private corporate applications.

The privately held Quebec-based company, which was founded in 2002, is targeting a handful of verticals with its offerings, including hospitality, healthcare and retail. Adaptiv is leaning on channel partners to bring its network as a service and co-managed cloud solutions to market.

Aruba Networks

Aruba Networks, an HPE company, is a major player in edge networking for hardware, software and services. The company comes to market with its Aruba Edge Services Platform (ESP) that lets companies accelerate digital transformation through automated network management, edge-to-cloud security and predictive AI-powered insight.

Aruba also offers a comprehensive portfolio of CX switches in addition to its 500/600 series Wi-Fi 6/6E access points and customers like that these solutions can be managed primarily through its cloud-first, AI-powered management platform, Aruba Central. With the help of partners, Aruba’s offerings are being used for a variety of use cases, including at the edge of the network and places that are gaining connectivity for the first time.

Cato Networks

Cloud networking provider Cato Networks specializes in SD-WAN and SASE. Cato has converged its SD-WAN and cloud-native security service edge technologies together to provide global cloud can services that enforce access policies, protect against security threats, and prevent sensitive data loss.

The company, which does 100 percent of its business through channel partners, earlier this month brought on channel powerhouse Frank Rauch as its new global channel chief to expand its business globally and to help partners profit from the enterprise shift to cloud-native networking and security, according to the Tel Aviv, Israel-based company.

Celona

Wireless upstart Celona burst onto the scene in 2020 with a platform that lets enterprises create 5G/4G LTE private networks, which filled a major gap in the connectivity market. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company also goes to market via a strategic partnership with Aruba Networks for the reselling of Celona’s cellular products.

The company in September unveiled a 5G LAN Device Certification Program to simplify deployment and adoption of private LTE/5G networks. In June, Celona launched a new solution provider partner program on the heels of bringing on its first channel chief and closing its oversubscribed $60 million Series C funding round. The program, Fanatics, gives resellers, MSPs and systems integrators a formal way to interact with and register private 5G and LTE deals with Celona, the company told CRN at the time.

Cradlepoint, Part of Ericsson

Cradlepoint, which was acquired by Ericsson in 2020, brought its wireless edge networking expertise to the telecom equipment giant. Cradlepoint is unlocking the power of LTE and next-gen cellular technologies, such as 5G, with its NetCloud Exchange, an extension of its cloud-managed Network-as-a-Service offering. The Cradlepoint NetCloud Manager platform lets IT administrators manage branch offices, vehicles, and IoT environments.

The Boise, Idaho-based wireless edge networking specialist since the start of the pandemic has been engaging its customers, with the help of partners, in conversations around harnessing cellular and wireless as their primary connection point where it was once was only considered as a backup or failover option for businesses. It’s been especially helpful for use cases that require temporary connectivity that can be scaled up or down very quickly.

Macrometa

Founded in 2017, privately held Macrometa offers its Global Data Network and edge computing platform to help developers build real-time applications and APIs.

The San Mateo, Calif.-based company in 2022 revealed a handful of partnerships, including a partnership with DevCycle in September to launch Edge Flags, what the two companies are calling the world’s first ultra-low-latency global feature flags solution for developers. In November, it

entered into a partnership with content delivery network services provider Akamai Technologies that the company said would include product integrations.

Sierra Wireless

Wireless communications equipment designer and service provider Sierra Wireless has been focusing on IoT software and managed services thanks to its 2020 purchase of M2M Group, a group of companies focused on IoT connectivity. The Canadian telecom equipment maker builds small embedded 5G-capable wireless modules for IoT applications.

In September, fellow IoT provider Semtech, based in Camarillo, California, revealed plans to acquire Sierra for a planned $1.2 billion to bring together a cloud portfolio that will include enhanced security, provisioning, device management, and geolocation capabilities for power optimized IoT applications.

Ubidots

Ubidots bills itself as an IoT application builder that offers data analytics and visualization to build efficient and elegant IoT applications quickly, according to the company. A specialist in industrial IoT, Ubidots targets a handful of verticals, including agriculture, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing. One of the company’s biggest use cases is smart factories.

The company, based in Doral, Florida, partners with a variety of technology providers for further IoT development, including the likes of Amazon Web Services, Sigfox, and Raspberry Pi.

Versa Networks

SD-WAN-turned-SASE-specialist Versa Networks is helping enterprises tackle challenges around security and connectivity, especially as next-generation connectivity technologies, such as 5G, becomes mainstream. The company believes that secure SD-WAN can simplify management across an expanding mobile footprint and that older wired internet services must coexist with 5G networks.

Privately held Santa Clara, Calif.-based Versa, one of the remaining standalone SASE companies, revealed a $120 million private equity funding round in October.