Huawei Unveils Target Architecture for Intelligent WANs at HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 in Shanghai
In a significant development during the HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 event held in Shanghai, Huawei introduced its proposed architecture for Intelligent WAN, aimed primarily at internet service providers (ISPs). This unveiling occurred during a panel discussion titled "Intelligent WAN: Fortifying the AI Services Connectivity Foundation for ISPs," featuring experts and partners from across the globe, who discussed prevailing market trends, solutions, and best practices pertaining to AI service delivery.
Wayne Zhou, Vice President of ISP Computing and Network Infrastructure at Huawei, emphasized the accelerating commercialization of AI and how operators with robust infrastructure can monetize it through AI services without the need for excessive investment in new infrastructure. The landscape is shifting, with service providers transforming from mere connectivity operators to enterprises integrating network services, computing power, and APIs, pivoting away from traditional bandwidth sales towards AI service provision.
Additionally, ISPs are increasingly adopting unified, intelligent WAN configurations capable of recognizing specific service demands, leading to an infrastructure better suited for AI development and implementation. Ado, the General Manager of the Wide Area Network Division at Huawei, elaborated on this architecture, highlighting critical changes brought about by AI-agent-driven operations that are progressively replacing human involvement in network connectivity decisions.
The transition marks a shift where an increasing amount of network traffic comprises data being processed and sent by AI agents. Consequently, the approach to maintaining service quality is evolving; it now requires ensuring seamless performance across entire AI agents rather than focusing on individual applications. In light of these transformations, ISPs are urged to reinforce their networks appropriately.
Ado pinpointed three pivotal areas for this enhancement. First, ISPs should establish a hierarchical, modular, and standardized target architecture that integrates IP and optical technologies. Such an architecture facilitates rapid network expansions, launches of new services, and resilience improvements, accelerating AI service deployments.
Second, the focus must shift to service quality throughout the network usage process, thereby translating network capabilities into a variety of clearly defined and measurable metrics that can be assured to clients. This will aid in monetizing both network capabilities and AI services effectively. Third, developing intelligent network operation and maintenance management can significantly reduce operational costs and streamline maintenance tasks through tools like Network Digital Maps, AI fault location agents, and AI assistants.
Moreover, during the panel discussions, representatives from companies such as Lintasarta of Indonesia, SiliconFlow of China, and Telconet of Ecuador shared insights and experiences regarding their AI services and the practicalities of deploying intelligent networks. The dialogue fostered a rich exchange of ideas beneficial for other ISPs looking to adapt to AI-enhanced networking.
Huawei’s ongoing commitment to innovation and investment in ISP infrastructure signals a proactive approach toward empowering service providers to leverage intelligent network solutions for sustained growth in the AI era. The tech giant’s aspiration is to collaborate with its clients for ongoing advancements in smart network capabilities, ensuring they can effectively harness new opportunities in this rapidly evolving technological landscape. Overall, the outcomes of HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 position Huawei at the forefront of enabling the ISP industry to meet the demands of modern AI applications.