Huawei's Vision: Leveraging AI Optical Networks for Future Growth

Huawei's Vision: Harnessing AI for Future Growth

At the recent MWC Barcelona 2025, Bob Chen, the president of Huawei's Optical Business Product Line, shared insightful perspectives on the evolution of optical networks, specifically emphasizing the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in optimizing network performance and service delivery. Chen introduced the concept of AI Optical Network (AI ON), which aims to provide a 5A quality connection, a new standard essential for the growth of AI-driven services in today's digital landscape.

The Era of AI: A New Paradigm

The AI era, according to Chen, is marked by three key characteristics: the pervasive application of AI, ubiquitous computational power dedicated to AI tasks, and the integration of native AI functions. These trends highlight the urgent need for advanced networks capable of accurately identifying and catering to diverse service types. The future of connectivity lies in selecting specific services based on traffic patterns and flow directions, thereby ensuring the demands for bandwidth, latency, and reliability are met.

Demands of Future Networks

As the digital environment evolves, so too must the capabilities of optical networks. Unlike their predecessors, which provided generic connectivity, future optical networks will need to offer on-demand, differentiated connectivity tailored to specific service requirements. For instance, a gamer might require a specialized package with a bandwidth of 1 Gb/s for a limited duration, reflecting the growing trend toward personalized service offerings.

Ensuring a high-quality connection is paramount. Previously, networks faced challenges from congestion, outages, and varying service demands that affected overall performance. The future vision for optical networks includes guaranteed high-quality connectivity regardless of fluctuations, coupled with deterministic latency and zero packet loss across all services.

The Shift to Autonomous Operation

In contrast to past reactive maintenance models, future networks must transition to a proactive approach that identifies and mitigates potential risks before they impact users. This transformative approach will allow for self-healing and optimization, enhancing overall network resilience and efficiency.

Integrating Native AI Functions

For this vision to come to fruition, native AI capabilities must be integrated into network terminals, devices, and management systems. This integration is crucial for accelerating the intelligence of the network. For example, AI computational power using ONT/FTTR technology can optimize device performance by identifying application types and adjusting resource allocations effectively.

Conclusion: A Call to Collectively Embrace Change

Bob Chen concluded by reiterating the profound potential of AI to transform society and present unprecedented opportunities for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. He emphasized that achieving the 5A connection quality is not merely an upgrade; it is a necessity for harnessing the benefits of technology across various industries, including hospitality and tourism. Huawei's commitment remains steadfast in collaborating with the industry to propel optical networks into the AI ON era, thus laying a robust foundation for future AI growth. In a world increasingly reliant on digital connections, embracing these advancements will be crucial to success and sustainability.