#China #Shanghai #Huawei #ISPs #Intelligent WAN

Huawei Unveils Target Architecture for Intelligent WAN for ISPs

On September 17, 2026, during the HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 event in Shanghai, Huawei presented its innovative target architecture for Intelligent WAN (Wide Area Network) designed specifically for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). This initiative aims to advance the connectivity foundations necessary for AI services offered by ISPs. The roundtable discussion titled "Intelligent WAN: Strengthening the Foundations of Connectivity for AI Services" featured global leaders and experts from the ISP sector, discussing pivotal trends, innovative solutions, and best practices.

Wayne Zhou, the Vice President of Huawei's ISP Computing and Network Infrastructure division, emphasized the rapid commercialization of AI, which enables major asset-holding players to monetize their capabilities through lightweight services. As the ISP industry evolves, several new trends are emerging that are reshaping the landscape. Beyond merely being transmission channels, ISPs are now leveraging edge nodes and their specific strengths to integrate connectivity, computing power, and APIs. This shift marks a transition from solely selling bandwidth to providing comprehensive AI services, leading to the creation of a unified, intelligent, and service-oriented WAN that can adapt to AI developments, ensuring continuous evolution within the sector.

During the presentation, CEO Ado of Huawei's WAN division elaborated on the architectural design of the Intelligent WAN. He highlighted three significant evolutions driven by agent-based AI within network systems. Firstly, connections are increasingly made between agents rather than just between humans. Secondly, the traffic patterns are shifting significantly, evolving from predominantly downstream traffic to substantial upstream traffic. Finally, the commitment to quality of experience in network usage is extending from specific applications to encompass the entire workflow of agents.

In light of these transformations, ISPs need to enhance their networks strategically. Ado proposed a framework structured around three core strategic axes. The first step involves establishing a converged IP/optical target architecture which is hierarchical, modular, and standardized. This approach enables ISPs to expand quickly, enhance service delivery, and improve network resilience, thus accelerating AI service deployment.

The second aspect emphasizes the need for a comprehensive end-to-end user experience, allowing networks to transform into definable, measurable, and deliverable services. This change aims to facilitate the monetization of both network and AI capabilities. The third focus is on bolstering intelligent operation and maintenance capacities. Utilizing tools such as Network Digital Maps, fault location agents, and AI assistants can substantially reduce operating expenses (OPEX) while boosting operational and maintenance efficiency (OM).

Huawei's roadmap lays out the evolution of target WANs, intended to assist ISPs in capturing new growth opportunities in the AI era. During the discussions, representatives from Lintasarta (Indonesia), SiliconFlow (China), and Telconet (Ecuador) exhibited their AI services while sharing insights on deploying intelligent networks. Experts from participating ISPs offered valuable perspectives, putting forth concrete recommendations for planning and deploying networks in the context of AI.

Looking ahead, Huawei is committed to continuing its innovation and investment efforts in the ISP and computing network landscape, collaborating with its clientele to pave the way for a smarter future.