Exploring the Enhanced Potential of 5G Technology with AI Integration
At the MWC Barcelona 2025, Li Peng, the Senior Vice President at Huawei and President of ICT Sales & Service, delivered a compelling keynote that delved into the promising relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G technology. His insights underscored how telecom operators can harness AI capabilities to unlock vast new efficiencies and values within their networks.
The Shift Towards an Intelligent World
Li Peng articulated a vision of an impending future where intelligence permeates every aspect of life. He remarked on the widespread adoption of intelligent applications, which are redefining user expectations and requirements from mobile networks. By strengthening their 5G networks, operators can fully realize the boundless possibilities of mobile connectivity, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.
"We are moving swiftly into a fully intelligent world. As smart applications thrive, networks are compelled to evolve to meet new demands," he stated. Huawei, he assured, is poised to collaborate with operators and industry stakeholders globally to push forward digital technology, bolstering network infrastructures while making AI accessible to all.
Changing Dynamics of Human-Machine Interaction
With the evolution of AI, interactions between humans and machines are transcending traditional text and voice communications to encompass gestures and multimedia engagement. This paradigm shift enhances the immediacy and convenience of user experiences. For instance, advanced voice assistants allow users to communicate with their devices more intuitively, while AI avatars can provide visual feedback, making digital health monitoring services more relatable to users.
However, supporting these innovative interactions requires networks to maintain guaranteed latency. This entails a transition from 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) to Standalone (SA) networks, eventually culminating in 5G-Advanced (5G-A). Operators are encouraged to explore cutting-edge technologies such as Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS) and Guaranteed Bit Rate (GBR) to minimize fundamental latency and meet specific use-case scenarios.
AI's Impact on Content Creation and Distribution
Li also highlighted AI's transformative effect on how content is created and shared. Technologies like AIGC allow for the generation of high-quality 2D and 3D videos at the click of a button. Moreover, personalized AI-generated recommendations are more precise than ever, enabling the distribution of tailored content to wider audiences via the internet. This wave of innovation is expected to drive substantial increases in network traffic in the coming years, pressuring operators to enhance their bandwidth capacity and network performance significantly.
User-Centric Network Coverage
As AI-driven services gain traction across both cloud and mobile platforms, the demand for user-centric network coverage is anticipated to surge. By 2030, projections indicate that over a billion people will engage with cloud-based devices, necessitating swift access to cloud computing resources. Furthermore, intelligent applications in vehicles will require comprehensive coverage across urban, highway, and rural areas to ensure seamless mobility.
To meet these escalating demands, continuous deployment advancements—from the rapid rollout of 5G NSA to the seamless integration of user-friendly 5G networks—will be essential. This evolution will empower operators to extend network reach while supporting a multitude of new connections across user devices and the Internet of Things (IoT).
The Evolution Towards Application-Centric Operations
The increasing complexity surrounding network architecture will enact an evolution towards application-oriented operations and maintenance. AI introduces varied application scenarios and diverse user needs, prompting a shift in operational paradigms from a resource-centric approach to a more application-focused strategy.
Some operators are already pioneering AI-driven operations systems utilizing digital twins that anticipate and address individualized user needs—significantly reducing time-to-market from days to minutes. In terms of network service, self-learning AI agents can swiftly predict and troubleshoot issues within seconds, improving resolution efficiency by 30%. Additionally, digital sandboxes allow AI agents to assess real traffic patterns round-the-clock, ensuring optimized network configurations based on application demands.
Unlocking New Business Models with 5G-A
Li concluded his presentation by emphasizing the untapped potential that new network opportunities can yield in terms of innovative business models. Operators are now exploring beyond traffic monetization to capitalize on enhanced user convenience, considering various metrics such as speed, latency, and premium services.
Operators around the world are devising customized offerings, particularly catering to business travelers and AI-based applications, while some have commenced B2B2C ventures, enhancing network possibilities through open APIs. For instance, Chinese carriers are collaborating with over 100 sectors, including insurance and catering services, to deliver AI-driven functionalities. This approach has led to a tenfold increase in revenue from industrious clients.
As Li remarked, "The possibilities are immense, and now is the time for action." As pioneers expand their 5G-A deployments across more than 200 cities worldwide, they are taking decisive strides toward unveiling extraordinary value—reshaping the telecom landscape as we know it.
MWC Barcelona 2025 is being held from March 3 to 6 in Barcelona, Spain, where Huawei is showcasing its latest innovations at booth 1H50 in Hall Fira Gran Via Hall 1. The rollout of commercial 5G-Advanced solutions is set to accelerate, assisted by AI, allowing operators to evolve their business, infrastructure, and operations in this intelligent age. For further insights, visit the following webpage:
Huawei MWC 2025.