#Spain #Huawei #Barcelona #MWC 2025 #AI Optical Network

Huawei's Vision for AI Optical Networks

During the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, Bob Chen, the President of Huawei’s Optical Business Product Line, unveiled an ambitious plan for the future of optical networks. This innovation aims to shift towards an AI-driven framework known as AI Optical Network (AI ON). The primary goal is to develop networks that can deliver 5A-quality connectivity, which not only meets the current demands of internet users but also establishes a solid foundation for artificial intelligence (AI) advancement and growth.

The Characteristics of the AI Era

Bob Chen described the current AI landscape as characterized by three key traits: ubiquity of AI applications, widespread AI computing power, and the pervasiveness of AI integration in various sectors. In this context, networks need to evolve into intelligent systems that can understand different types of services and adapt their connectivity accordingly. This capability will ensure optimal service experiences while enabling sufficient computing power scheduling for flexible and efficient operations.

The Vision for AI Optical Networks

Bob Chen laid out several core features that the new AI Optical Networks must embody:

1. Awareness: Previous optical networks lacked the ability to sense the types of services being provided. Future networks, however, will need to identify service types based on data traffic patterns and flow directions. This advancement will allow networks to allocate bandwidth intelligently and meet latency and reliability standards tailored to specific needs.

2. Always On Demand: Unlike conventional networks, future optical systems must facilitate real-time, differentiated connectivity. For instance, a gamer could be offered a specific bandwidth package tailored to their gaming needs, ensuring they receive appropriate bandwidth when required.

3. Assurance: Quality of connectivity has often been compromised by issues such as network congestion. To address this, future networks should guarantee high-quality service irrespective of environmental changes or service fluctuations, maintaining consistent latency and preventing packet loss.

4. Autonomous Operations Management (OM): Traditional network management strategies revolved around reactive measures taken post-fault. The vision for future networks is proactive; they will identify risks before they impact users, achieving self-healing through predictive measures.

5. AI Native: Implementing full-stack AI capabilities across all network environments, including terminals and management systems, will significantly enhance network intelligence. This means integrating AI directly within Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) and other devices to optimize their performance based on the applications they're handling.

A Transformative Shift

In his closing remarks, Bob Chen emphasized that the advent of AI represents a monumental shift for society, promising unprecedented opportunities for sectors including Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He pointed out that the concept of '5A'—a standard indicating superior service quality in industries like hospitality—should also characterize AI-driven connectivity solutions.

Huawei is committed to collaborating across the industry to facilitate the evolution of optical networks towards AI ON, to provide 5A-quality connectivity, and to unlock new growth potentials in the AI era. As the world moves towards a future increasingly dominated by AI, the role of advanced, intelligent networks will be pivotal in ensuring a connected and efficient society.