#Spain #AI #Huawei #Barcelona #5G

Maximizing 5G Network Value with AI: Insights from Li Peng at MWC 2025

At the MWC Barcelona 2025, Li Peng, Senior Vice President at Huawei and head of ICT Sales and Services, delivered a compelling speech on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to unlock the full potential of 5G networks. Highlighting the synergy between 5G-A and AI, he predicted that this relationship would drive substantial growth in both Daily Usage (DOU) and Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) for mobile subscribers.

A New Intelligent Era

"We are rapidly entering a fully intelligent world," said Li, pointing to the widespread adoption of smart applications. These developments demand heightened capabilities from telecommunications networks. By harnessing and advancing 5G technology, operators can tap into the limitless potential of mobile networks. Li emphasized Huawei's commitment to collaboration with global operators and partners, aiming to bolster digitalization and strengthen network foundations, ultimately making AI accessible to all users.

AI Transforming Human-Machine Interaction

The advancements in AI are reshaping human-machine interactions, transitioning from basic text communication to more intuitive vocal and gesture-based commands. This evolution sets the stage for real-time interactions, enabling a new wave of innovative applications. For instance, users can engage naturally with devices utilizing AI voice assistants, while cloud-based avatars on smartphones can generate visual feedback, enhancing services like health monitoring and improving accessibility across diverse user demographics.

To support such applications, networks must ensure low latency, prompting a continuous evolution from 5G NSA (Non-Standalone) to 5G SA (Standalone) and ultimately to 5G-A. Operators are encouraged to adopt innovative technologies like CUPS (Control and User Plane Separation) and GBR (Guaranteed Bit Rate) to minimize core latencies and provide differentiated, deterministic latencies for specific applications.

AI in Content Creation and Distribution

Li highlighted how artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize content production and distribution. Technology like AIGC (AI-Generated Content) now allows users to create extensive 2D and 3D films with just one click. Moreover, AI-driven recommendations are becoming more precise, enabling the tailored distribution of personalized content to a broader audience online. According to Li, these trends will lead to a dramatic increase in network traffic over the next five years, resulting in unprecedented demands on network infrastructures.

To keep pace, operators will need increased bandwidth, enhanced network capabilities, and significantly greater upload and download capacities.

Experience-Centric Network Coverage

The proliferation of cloud-based infrastructure and AI-driven mobile devices is making smart services more accessible and increasing the demand for experience-centric network coverage. External forecasts indicate that by 2030, over a billion individuals will rely on smartphones and cloud storage, necessitating swift access to cloud computing power. Additionally, intelligent applications in vehicles will require comprehensive network coverage in urban areas, highways, and rural locales, ensuring constant and reliable mobility.

To fulfill these demands, continuous advancements are essential, transitioning from rapid deployment of 5G NSA to 5G SA networks, which offer improved functionality both indoors and outdoors, eventually leading to experience-oriented 5G-A networks.

Complexity in Network Management

As applications become more complex, AI will enhance the evolution and management of network functionalities. This shift will require moving from traditional resource-oriented management approaches to application-centric strategies. Currently, some operators are already developing AI-agent-based operational support systems. These AI agents can utilize digital twins to predict personalized needs for individual users, expediting service rollout times from days to mere minutes. In maintenance, AI agents can swiftly identify and localize faults within seconds, improving problem-solving efficiency by 30%.

In terms of network optimization, digital sandboxes can simulate real-world application traffic patterns, allowing AI agents to analyze and optimize network performance continuously.

New Business Models in the Era of AI

Li also underscored that emerging network capabilities are facilitating innovative business models. "Operators can move beyond traffic monetization and start profiting from the experience itself," he stated. Globally, operators are actively exploring new ways to generate revenue from user experiences based on factors like speed, latency, and VIP benefits. Custom services have been launched for business travelers, live streamers, and AI cloud phone users. Some operators even venture into B2B2C markets, offering network capabilities via open APIs.

For instance, several Chinese operators are collaborating with over 100 industry sectors, including insurance and gastronomy, providing AI New Calling services through open APIs, contributing to a tenfold revenue increase from enterprise clients.

Conclusion: Time for Action

"The opportunities are incredible," Li concluded. "Now is the time for action. Pioneers are dynamically advancing in over 200 cities worldwide, taking bold steps to unlock significant new value."

The MWC Barcelona 2025 runs from March 3 to March 6 in Spain, where Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions at booth 1H50 in Hall 1 of Fira Gran Via. Looking ahead to 2025, the commercial rollout of 5G-Advanced technology is set to accelerate, driven by AI's transformational potential for operators.

Huawei is committed to collaborating with operators and partners globally to expedite the transition to an intelligent world. For more information, visit Huawei's MWC 2025 page.