Accelerating Toward the Era of Agent Internet with 5G-A and AI by Huawei's Li Peng

Accelerating Toward the Era of Agent Internet with 5G-A and AI

At the MWC Barcelona 2026 event, Li Peng, the Senior Vice President of Huawei and the head of ICT Sales & Service, delivered an inspiring keynote regarding the potential of 5G-Advanced (5G-A) combined with artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasized how telecommunication operators can harness these technologies to significantly redefine connectivity. Li highlighted that as networks converge with AI, operators are presented with transformative opportunities to enhance the value of connectivity. This shift is poised to expedite entry into what's being termed the 'Agent Internet' era.

The industry has evolved steadily from 4G to 5G, with operators increasingly implementing 5G-A capabilities. Li stated, “This year signifies our transition into the Agent Internet era. Networks will no longer merely connect people; they will connect hundreds of billions of agents.” This forecast indicates a surge in connectivity demands over the next decade, as networks will support not only human communication but also inter-agent communication. Consequently, operators will shift their focus from basic data transfer services to high-value offerings, thereby unlocking a market potential estimated at 10 trillion dollars.

Redefining Business Models with Enhanced Connectivity

The evolution of network capabilities will bring about substantial changes in the business models employed by telecommunication operators. In just seven years since the commercial rollout of 5G, over 300 operators worldwide have rejuvenated their data monetization strategies, resulting in increased revenue and user bases. Going forward, the ability to monetize user experience quality will be crucial to the success of operators. Both 5G SA and 5G-A promise diverse network resources that over 30 leading operators have already utilized to create user experience-based packages. This allows for monetizing speed, latency, and other critical metrics, propelling user engagement and satisfaction.

By implementing dynamic resource allocation, operators can enhance service models beyond the highest tier offerings, promising deterministic network experiences tailored to user needs. This will strengthen brand reputation and encourage users to opt for premium services. By providing offerings such as personalized logo display and multi-tier speed enhancement, operators can ensure network efficiency during peak moments and improve overall network perception.

The Convergence of Connectivity and AI

Li further discussed the transformative impact of integrating AI with core telecom services to elevate customer satisfaction. For individual consumers, AI can significantly augment traditional voice services. With approximately 5.4 billion users globally, AI can enable features like transcription, translation, and virtual assistants—many of which are already widely adopted in regions like China and South Korea. Furthermore, many operators are introducing AI-driven phones as gateways to the Agent Internet, thus modernizing B2C services, which are vital revenue sources for the majority of telecom companies.

In the context of home services, operators are utilizing AI to enhance broadband services to ultra-gigabit standards and deliver intelligent home services. AI solutions can guarantee deterministic speeds for essential functions such as online gaming and live streaming. Network aides can help users optimize their Wi-Fi and troubleshoot connectivity issues via voice commands. Innovative AI lifestyle assistants could also create shared family albums in the cloud seamlessly accessible across devices.

Within industrial settings, the union of 5G-A and AI can reshape essential operational processes, dramatically boosting manufacturing efficiency. For instance, AI-equipped factories can rapidly respond to demand fluctuations, plan new production runs within minutes, and deliver innovative products within hours.

Future Opportunities for Service Expansion

Li stated, “There remains immense potential for leveraging 5G-A and AI. Operators are poised to explore future applications including massive IoT and embodied AI.” He proposed three strategic avenues for operators to maximize these opportunities. Firstly, they should expand their entire portfolio of services, devices, and frequency bands toward 5G-A to cultivate a dynamic network ecosystem. Secondly, the infusion of AI across business, operations, and management will lay the groundwork for diversified maintenance and operational services. Finally, installing intelligent solutions into their infrastructure will facilitate the evolution of future network architectures.

“Huawei is prepared to work closely with operators to fully realize the potential of 5G-A and AI, helping them evolve into AI service providers,” concluded Li. By jointly modernizing crucial operator services through multi-agent collaborative platforms, they can build AI-directed networks that underpin more effective operations. Together, they can launch a new world of possibilities, laying robust foundations for future networks.

MWC Barcelona 2026 is set to take place from March 2 to March 5, 2026, where Huawei will display its latest products and solutions at booth 1H50 in Hall Fira Gran Via.

With the rapid approach of the agent network era, large-scale commercial deployment of 5G-A is accelerating. Huawei actively collaborates with operators and partners globally to unlock the full potential of 5G-A and pave the way towards the evolution into 6G. The company is also advancing AI-focused networking solutions that enable smart services and network elements, hastening the deployment of autonomous networks at level 4 (AN L4) while utilizing AI to modernize key operational areas. In collaboration with industry stakeholders, Huawei is aiming to create next-generation networks that are truly value-driven and establish the computational foundations of AI for a fully intelligent future.

For more information, visit Huawei's event site.