That’s where Edgewater and its Spectrum Slicing technology come in. Edgewater is a fabless semiconductor company; it designs advanced Wi-Fi chips and technology but leaves the manufacturing to outside partners. Its chips are sold directly to companies building wireless products, while others can license the technology to improve their own designs. Either way, the result is better-performing Wi-Fi, more efficient use of the airwaves, and new revenue opportunities for all parties.
The Company’s patents include a way to split a single Wi-Fi radio into multiple, simultaneous channels (“Spectrum Slicing”). It’s kind of like turning a one-lane road into a multi-lane highway. More traffic gets through, things move faster, and there’s less waiting around. The result is higher capacity, lower latency, and steadier performance, even when dozens of devices are all competing for signal at once.
Proof of Concept with Liberty Global
The technology gives service providers the ability to deliver as much as 18 times the efficiency of traditional Wi-Fi. Edgewater’s solution demonstrated notable performance improvements during a recent proof of concept with a Tier 1 service provider, Liberty Global (NASDAQ: LBTY.A).
Liberty Global collected and analyzed data from 750,000 subscriber homes and six million connected devices. The results showed 75% of homes recorded a 3 to 10 times increase in access rates and 75% of homes registered a 5 to 21 times performance improvement. (For additional information, read eResearch’s article “Liberty Global Endorses Edgewater’s Technology to Improve Home Wi-Fi.”)
The Liberty Global pilot was based on Edgewater’s first-generation chip. The next-generation solution, the MLX 488, will add customer-driven features and functionality. The chip combines Edgewater’s Spectrum Slicing tech with an AI-enabled compute layer designed to manage high-traffic loads more efficiently. It’s also expected to transform the economics of Wi-Fi deployments by reducing operational costs with fewer technician visits, better performance, and a lower total cost than legacy, single-channel chips. Recently, the Company raised almost $2 million through an oversubscribed private placement. That money is now going toward ramping up production of the MLX 488.
Edgewater is also making strategic inroads within the broader silicon development community. As a portfolio company of Silicon Catalyst, Edgewater has access to a global semiconductor incubator network and benefits from partnerships with key ecosystem players. The Company was featured in Silicon Catalyst’s Spring 2025 Portfolio Company Update and the 2025 Silicon Catalyst Magazine, highlighting its progress on commercialization and silicon production. These placements are helping raise Edgewater’s profile across both investor and technology development circles.
Momentum to Commercialization
Now, in 2025, the push toward commercialization is picking up. Edgewater is running pilot programs with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)-ready access points and leaning on new strategic partnerships to help move the tech into real-world use.
The core pitch still holds; better efficiency and stronger performance in both residential and enterprise settings. Traditional single-lane Wi-Fi is nearing the end of its lifecycle, as the industry shifts toward more advanced, multi-lane solutions. Edgewater’s Spectrum Slicing technology is built for that next phase, offering a scalable way to handle dense, device-heavy environments. Backed by a broad patent portfolio and trade secrets, the Company is positioning Spectrum Slicing as a standards-leading approach for the future of Wi-Fi.
Looking out to 2026, the goal is pretty clear. Turn the momentum from these pilot projects and partnerships into revenue. Start scaling, deepen relationships with service providers and OEMs, and see where the market takes it.
The Wi-Fi market was expected to hit US$22.06 billion in 2024 and climb to US$45.12 billion by 2029, according to a recent report by MarketsandMarkets. That works out to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4%. A big part of the push is coming from public spaces like airports, hotels, and retail stores, where demand for fast, reliable internet keeps rising. Travelers want to stream and message without buffering. Shoppers want quick mobile payments and app-based promotions that don’t hang on loading screens. So, businesses are upgrading their networks. The goal is to keep people connected, keep them happy, and in a lot of cases, keep them coming back.
FIGURE 1: Spectrum Slicing Technology
Strategic Partnerships and Industry Validation
Edgewater’s recent growth has been tied to key partnerships and an increasing presence within the wireless world. The Company has spent years putting its technology to the test in live settings including festivals, retail environments, and places where dense traffic can crush a standard connection. Those experiences helped shape the current strategy and are now giving the Company credibility as it moves into broader commercial discussions.
In March, the Company joined the Silicon Catalyst incubator and accelerator. This initiative will allow Edgewater access to crucial resources and expertise to boost silicon production and commercialization.
The Company also appointed Silicon Catalyst (siliconcatalyst.com) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Nick Kepler as a Board Observer. Kepler brings valuable semiconductor experience to the Company’s leadership group.
These partnerships will be critical in growing Edgewater’s intellectual property portfolio, adding new strategic alliances, and opening up new revenue streams and market opportunities.
In addition, the Company has positioned itself as a wireless thought leader by participating in key industry events in 2025. These conferences include the RDK Tech Summit, CHIPS North Executive Summit, and CableLabs Winter Conference.
Accelerating Innovation with Arm’s Flexible Access Program
In late 2024, Edgewater joined the Arm Holdings (NASDAQ: ARM) Flexible Access program, a strategic move that significantly bolsters its development capabilities. This partnership grants Edgewater unlimited design access to a comprehensive suite of Arm’s proven IP blocks, including AI modules, tools, training, and support. Such access enables the Company to experiment and innovate freely, reducing time to market and mitigating development risks.
Arm designs the chip architectures used in 99% of smartphones, giving it a footprint that touches about 70% of the world’s population.
The Arm Flexible Access model is particularly advantageous for companies like Edgewater, as it eliminates the traditional up-front licensing fees. Instead, licensing costs are incurred only at the point of manufacture, providing financial flexibility and encouraging extensive experimentation.
By leveraging Arm’s AI-optimized compute platform, Edgewater aims to enhance its Spectrum Slicing technology, delivering superior performance, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. This integration is expected to drive the development of intelligent, next-generation Wi-Fi solutions that meet the escalating demands of high-density connectivity environments.
Edgewater’s CEO, Andrew Skafel, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating that it allows the Company to “take Wi-Fi Spectrum Slicing technology to the next level,” opening up new possibilities for users and the industry globally.
Edgewater’s Intellectual Property Value Surpasses Its Market Cap
In a forward-looking assessment, Avon River Ventures LLC (avonriverventures.com) independently valued the intellectual property portfolio of Edgewater Wireless at between $90 million and $180 million. The valuation reflects the breadth and depth of Edgewater’s 26 granted patents, which cover core Wi-Fi silicon innovations and access point solutions.
Avon River noted, though, that Edgewater’s Intellectual Property (IP) valuation hinges on commercial adoption, especially for its MLX 488 and IIoT solutions. The IP valuation far exceeds Edgewater’s current market cap of $11.8 million.
It is important to note this valuation is milestone-dependent, as opposed to the Company’s established peers, whose valuations reflect current revenue streams. This illustrates Edgewater’s high-risk, high-reward profile in the wireless connectivity industry.
For comparative purposes, Edgewater Wireless competes for mind, market share, and investor dollars with industry giants such as Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB), STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM), and Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN).
Final Thoughts
On its path to commercialization, Edgewater is advancing three high-impact initiatives in 2025. First, the Company is ramping up silicon production for its Spectrum Slicing-enabled MLX 488 platform. Second, following successful pilot programs in late 2024, Edgewater is preparing for the commercial launch of its next-generation IIoT access point solution. Third, the Company is actively expanding its intellectual property portfolio through continued innovation and strategic alliances.
These initiatives are positioning Edgewater to drive commercialization, unlock new market opportunities, and enhance shareholder value. With a scalable technology platform, strategic partnerships in place, and a focused roadmap to 2026, Edgewater is aiming to establish Spectrum Slicing as the global standard for next-generation Wi-Fi.
To learn more about Edgewater:
- Liberty Global Endorses Edgewater’s Technology to Improve Home Wi-Fi (article)
- Edgewater and CMC Wireless Accelerate Commercialization of High Density, Wi-Fi Technology (article)
- Edgewater Wireless Systems (TSXV:YFI) (22-page analyst report)
FIGURE 2: YFI 1-Year Stock Chart
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The article may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the Company’s management as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein. Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Please read eResearch’s full disclaimer.
