#China #Shanghai #Huawei #AI Services #Intelligent WAN

Huawei Unveils Intelligent WAN Target Architecture

On September 17, 2026, during the HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 event held in Shanghai, a significant roundtable marked the culmination of discussions focused on "Intelligent WAN: Fortifying the Connectivity Foundation for AI Services for ISPs." The event saw the participation of global internet service provider (ISP) experts and partners engaging in dialogue about industry trends, solutions, and best practices.

Huawei took this opportunity to reveal its innovative Intelligent WAN Target Architecture, aiming to realize the potential of AI and computational power in the intelligent era. This architecture is designed to evolve and enhance ISP capabilities beyond traditional bandwidth offerings, capitalizing on edge nodes and providing a framework to integrate connectivity, computation, and APIs with a structured approach.

Wayne Zhou, the Vice President of Huawei's ISP Computing and Network Infrastructure BU, emphasized the rapid commercialization of AI, which is reshaping the ISP landscape. He pointed out that ISPs are transitioning from merely providing broadband to delivering AI-driven services thanks to new trends affecting industry dynamics. This shift involves constructing a unified, intelligent, and service-aware WAN to improve AI readiness and embrace continual advancements.

One of the highlights of the roundtable was the insights shared by Ado, CEO of Huawei's Wide Area Network Domain. He discussed how agency-driven AI is initiating three critical transformations within networks: 1) A shift in connections from users to agents; 2) Traffic patterns evolving from heavy downlink to substantial uplink; and 3) Enhancement of network experience assurance from specific applications to the complete agent workflow.

To effectively address and leverage these changes, Ado proposed three strategic pillars for ISPs: 1) Establishing a hierarchical, modular, and standardized target architecture for converged IP and optical networks, facilitating rapid service expansion and boosting network resilience while accelerating AI service deployment; 2) Focusing on an end-to-end user experience that morphs network capabilities into definable, measurable, and deliverable differentiated services; and 3) Enhancing intelligent operational management capabilities. He highlighted the usefulness of tools such as the Network Digital Map, an agent for fault localization, and an AI assistant to significantly reduce OPEX and improve operational efficiency.

The roundtable featured discussions from various participating ISPs, including Lintasarta from Indonesia, SiliconFlow from China, and Telconet from Ecuador, who shared their experiences in AI service implementation and intelligent network deployment strategies. This collaborative effort focused on providing practical guidance for network planning and execution in the age of AI.

Huawei's commitment to innovation within the ISP domain is unwavering, as they plan to bolster their investments and collaborative efforts with customers, paving the way for a new, intelligent future. The company is clearly positioned to play a pivotal role in transforming how ISPs operate and deliver services in an increasingly intelligent world.

As we look toward the future, Huawei’s Intelligent WAN Target Architecture stands out as a beacon of technological advancement, highlighting the necessity for ISPs to adapt and evolve in order to thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.