Bigleaf Networks has expanded its wireless-first portfolio with integrated Wi-Fi for the BLR Edge 800W, a 5G-capable edge router designed for companies that run many small sites and cannot afford network downtime. The update reframes the branch router as a single intelligent gateway. This single device combines Wi-Fi 6 access, cellular or wired uplinks, and cloud-based optimization under a single vendor and a single pane of glass.
A Smarter Router for the Edge Era
Introduced on January 15, 2025, the 800W is positioned as a plug-and-play platform for multi-site rollouts and the on-ramp to Bigleaf's Cloud Connect optimization layer. Cloud Connect provides centralized visibility and steering across circuits and is paired with the company's Connect Care support.
Under the hood, Bigleaf's SD-WAN monitors latency, jitter, loss, and capacity roughly ten times per second and shifts traffic accordingly. Dynamic QoS classifies flows automatically, while Same-IP Failover preserves active sessions during a circuit outage so calls, VPNs, and SaaS sessions don't drop.
That engineering focus also shows up in how Chief Product Officer David Idle contrasts the device with the field. "Most traditional routers with 5G capabilities are either complex to install, require third-party licenses, or don't integrate well with enterprise environments," he said. "The Edge 800W is a true plug-and-play device. It combines Bigleaf's SD-WAN technology with integrated Wi-Fi, seamless failover, and multi-circuit support, all while using the same IP address during outages. That means your applications never go offline, and your IT team doesn't need to lift a finger post-deployment," he added.
Why Built-In Wi-Fi Changes the Game
In July, Bigleaf Networks announced it is integrating dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and a dedicated internal 5G modem into its hardware. This hybrid-WAN support allows customers to blend cellular with existing broadband for reliable failover and intelligent load balancing. Now, the same WAN optimization that keeps your cloud apps and point-of-sale systems running smoothly is built directly into the Wi-Fi. This integration means less hardware to manage and smarter access policies that automatically adapt to real-time network conditions.
Idle frames the move through a distributed-operations lens and says, "Distributed businesses, think restaurants, healthcare clinics, or retail chains, often struggle with managing connectivity across dozens or hundreds of sites. Our new router simplifies that. Wi-Fi is now built into the same device that's managing SD-WAN functions, eliminating the need for extra hardware. It's cost-effective, easier to manage, and ensures that end users, whether customers or employees, get the performance they need without disruptions."
Solving the "Last-Mile" Problem without a Construction Project
Distributed businesses still battle waiting weeks for fiber or relying on a single, inconsistent provider. Bigleaf's approach is to optimize whatever is available, like cable, fiber, fixed wireless, or satellite, so performance is stabilized even when transport types vary by site. Its Wireless Connect offering extends coverage where traditional broadband is thin, fitting the 800W's role as a multi-link broker that can put a new location online immediately and then improve as better circuits arrive.
Idle puts the business case clearly: "The Edge 800W solves the 'last mile' problem of internet reliability." Businesses in rural or underserved areas often cannot rely on cable or fiber. With built-in wireless failover and Bigleaf's intelligent traffic steering, our customers achieve uptime that meets enterprise standards, without needing to replace their existing systems. It's especially valuable for organizations with limited IT staff or budget who still need enterprise-grade performance.
Plug-and-Play That Stays Online During Outages
The 800W's promise hinges on resilience that the branch rarely notices. Continuous telemetry feeds intelligent steering, dynamic QoS prioritizes latency-sensitive traffic, and same-IP failover keeps sessions intact through an ISP incident. In practice, that design aims to minimize visible disruption to VoIP, payment terminals, and cloud sign-ins during brownouts or circuit failures. Independent trade coverage and the company's announcements have consistently described the 800W as a gateway device for Cloud Connect with integrated Wi-Fi and seamless failover, matching those technical claims.
Reliability That Scales Site by Site
Edge networks have grown up. A modern branch looks less like a mini data center and more like a small, wireless-first office that leans on cloud apps all day. Bigleaf's BLR Edge 800W tracks that reality with an all-in-one package—Wi-Fi 6 for local access, 5G and multi-circuit WAN for reach, and cloud intelligence to keep packets on the best path. For thinly stretched IT teams, the measure of success will be field results: whether telemetry-driven steering and Same-IP Failover deliver fewer help-desk calls and steadier uptime across many small sites, not just in pilots.
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