Huawei Unveils Next-Gen OTN Solution for AI-Driven Optical Networks

Huawei Unveils a New Optical Network Solution

During the recent NetworkX 2026 event, Huawei presented its vision for constructing a fully optical network known as "LIGHTS." This cutting-edge infrastructure is specifically designed to harness the power of AI and facilitate business growth in the AIDC (Artificial Intelligence Data Center) sector.

The Opportunities Presented by AI

Gavin Gu, President of Huawei's Optical Transmission Networks Division, highlighted three significant waves of opportunity that AI development brings to operators. The focus is shifting from traditional consumer-oriented networks to business-related (ToB) applications. This transition is characterized by a hyper-scale single connectivity, private links for enterprise computing power, and integrated computing and networking services. Thus, planning is evolving from being solely administratively based to being AIDC-focused.

Key Features of the LIGHTS Network

To capitalize on these opportunities, operators need a fully optical network geared towards AIDC. Huawei outlines its LIGHTS network as a priority for operators, emphasizing six essential features:
1. Low Latency
2. Intelligent Operation
3. Green Foundation
4. High Reliability
5. Tbps-level Capacity
6. Security Assurance

Huawei's advanced OTN solution meets the growing demands for LIGHTS, addressing both Data Center Interconnect (DCI) and Data Center Access (DCA) scenarios. For DCI, the new generation OTN offers ultra-high-speed capacities ranging from 800 G to 2 T, thus allowing quick deployment of multi-directional capacity with minimal resources. This helps operators accelerate their time to market, maximize fiber-optic capacities, and meet the burgeoning demands for broadband at the Tbps level, ensuring rapid DCI traffic delivery.

For the DCA scenario, Huawei provides an end-to-end OXC network architecture with direct one-hop connections, millisecond-responsive WSON for guaranteed high availability, flexible bandwidth from 10 Mb/s to 1 Gb/s, and integrated quantum encryption solutions (QKD). The OTN solution has also been upgraded both in hardware and software, ensuring a comprehensive "zero outage network."

Transforming the Business Model of Operators

The introduction of the fully optical LIGHTS network allows operators to evolve from traditional bandwidth-centric business models toward offering essential functions and value-added services. Private links for computing are transitioning from singular considerations of bandwidth to multiple dimensional attributes, including latency, reliability, and security. With such advancements, operators can provide differentiated services across various sectors, improving their pricing power.

For example, in Hubei Province, China, telecom operators are leveraging both networking and computing capabilities to launch integrated services across education, healthcare, and finance. The comprehensive optical LIGHTS network supports operators in seizing opportunities stemming from AI, facilitating network monetization and business growth.

Huawei is committed to collaborating with industry partners to drive technological innovations and propel business growth initiatives, accelerating the evolution of the optical transmission industry into the AI era. Through this commitment, Huawei aims to fuel further developments in optical networking technologies essential for future advancements.