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Engaging the Future: Yang Chaobin's Vision for AI Connectivity

At the MWC Barcelona 2026 event, Yang Chaobin, CEO of Huawei's ICT Business Group, delivered a potent call to the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, urging it to enhance accessibility to artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for everyone. His address highlighted the critical need for increased efforts in developing adequate spectrum and network capacities to unleash the full potential of advanced 5G technologies, which are essential for supporting emerging AI applications.

In his keynote speech, Yang remarked that we are swiftly approaching an intelligent era where new AI applications are manifesting daily. He emphasized that the industry must unite to fully exploit the capabilities of 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology. To do this, Yang stressed the importance of leveraging new frequency resources, such as the U6 GHz spectrum, to generate new value within the sector and pave the way for the next-generation 6G technologies.

The demand for AI services is skyrocketing, evident in the soaring consumption of tokens used for various applications, from text-to-video conversions to AI-enabled shopping experiences. According to Yang, daily token consumption has increased by 300 times over the last two years, presenting vast opportunities for the mobile industry. However, with these advancements come significant challenges that must be addressed.

Firstly, Yang pointed out that networks need to pivot from a strong focus on downlink capacity towards providing ultra-high bandwidth for both uplink and downlink. This shift is essential for facilitating multimodal data exchanges between devices and cloud platforms in support of AI functionalities. Additionally, he highlighted the necessity for networks to offer secure, reliable connections with ultra-low latency to bolster real-time AI interactions and smart decision-making processes.

With 6G standardization efforts currently underway, Yang noted that the standards are not expected to be finalized before March 2029, which opens up a five-year window for the mobile industry to take advantage of AI services while creating new values through effective investments in 5G-A technology. Coupled with a tenfold increase in uplink speeds, 5G-A is already changing the landscape of data services, offering enhanced AI service experiences, introducing innovative IoT technologies like reduced capacity (RedCap) for passive IoT, and revolutionizing network options through AI.

The deployment of 5G-A has already been widely established in over 300 cities globally, with ongoing expansions across all frequency bands. Yang indicated that new, enhanced frequencies are critical, especially in regions with a scarcity of C-band resources, where U6 GHz is emerging as a key enabler for maximizing network potential. Following various discussions at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), U6 GHz has been designated as a primary frequency band to support future mobile communications.

Moreover, Yang addressed a pressing issue faced by the industry: the global disparity in digital access. Current statistics from GSMA reveal that more than 300 million people lack mobile broadband coverage. Despite significant efforts from the telecommunications sector to bridge this digital divide over the past two decades, the rapid advancement of AI technologies seems to be widening the gap. Yang called for stronger initiatives to promote digital inclusion, urging the exploration of strategies for inclusive access, such as diverse frequency band combinations and more cost-effective solution designs.

Huawei has initiated innovative solutions like RuralStar to provide inclusive mobile access to over 170 million people across 80 countries. Yang also highlighted various programs aimed at boosting inclusion, such as DigiTruck, which provides digital skills training to rural students in Kenya, inclusive financial services for rural residents in Bangladesh, and mobile health services for villages in Argentina.

In closing, Yang encouraged industry representatives to continue working on the massive-scale commercial rollout of 5G-A to address the emerging demands of AI services while laying the groundwork for a transition to 6G. The MWC 2026, which runs from March 2-5 in Barcelona, serves as a showcase for Huawei's latest products and solutions at their booth 1H50 in Hall 1 of Fira Gran Via.

As we transition into the era of intelligent networks, the large-scale commercial adoption of 5G-A continues to accelerate. Huawei is actively collaborating with operators and partners around the world to unleash the full potential of 5G-A while preparing for the shift to 6G. We are also developing AI-focused network solutions to facilitate intelligent services, networks, and network elements (NE), thereby expediting the deployment of autonomous Level 4 networks (AN L4) and leveraging AI to modernize our core operations. Together with other industry players, we aim to establish leading value-oriented networks and AI backbone networks for a fully intelligent future.

For more information, visit Huawei at MWC 2026