Huawei Unveils Vision for AI-Centric All-Optical Target Network at MWC 2026

Huawei's All-Optical Target Network at MWC 2026

At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Huawei unveiled an ambitious vision centered around building an AI-oriented all-optical target network. This development aims to significantly enhance the overall service experience in various network environments. The presentation took place during the Green All-Optical Network Forum, hosted by IDATE, where leading figures from the telecom industry gathered to discuss the future of optical networking in the context of artificial intelligence.

Kim Jin, Vice President of Huawei's Optical Business Product Line, discussed four key initiatives designed to improve network capabilities across bandwidth, reliability, coverage, and latency. These enhancements are geared toward enabling network providers to maximize their network value while delivering an optimal experience for AI-driven services.

The forum attracted over 200 industry leaders and experts, including representatives from European telecom regulators, the FTTH Council, and major network suppliers. Industry giants like Bouygues Telecom and China Unicom shared their insights and successful practices in navigating the evolving landscape of optical networks.

Key Initiatives for Network Improvement

Huawei's initiatives focus on seamless integration of AI technology within optical networks. The proposed improvements include:

1. Enhanced Home Wi-Fi Solutions: Huawei's Wi-Fi 7 tri-band FTTR solution aims to deliver stable speeds of 4 Gbps in every room, coupled with seamless roaming across homes with latencies below 10 ms. This innovative solution leverages AI-driven anti-interference technology to enhance signal penetration through walls, increasing speeds by 20% even under challenging conditions.

2. Next-Generation PON Technology: Employing advanced technologies such as OLT application-level PON slicing and optimized air-interface planning for Wi-Fi, Huawei seeks to create special quality channels tailored for VIP applications. This upgrade allows for structured and deterministic network experiences, providing enhanced service delivery.

3. End-to-End Optical Cross-Connects (OXC): This novel solution extends optical switching capabilities to metropolitan networks, resulting in reduced end-to-end latency. The design facilitates a mesh network architecture, enabling millisecond-level computing for AI services.

4. Evolving to 400G/800G Technologies: Huawei proposes a 3D mesh backbone architecture combined with new 400G/800G technologies to tackle bandwidth bottlenecks effectively. This infrastructure supports efficient data center interconnects and international network traffic via full-spectrum submarine cable transmissions.

Ensuring Continuous Connectivity for AI Services

Huawei places great emphasis on ensuring high availability of AI services through a resilient optical network. By introducing coordinated hardware and software upgrades, advanced algorithms, and eOTDR technology, network providers can precisely identify and mitigate network risks. Innovative liquid crystal materials facilitate rapid WSON switching within 50 ms, promising exceptionally reliable network performance.

For management and maintenance, Huawei implements the FANSpirit agent within optical access domains to reduce consumer complaints regarding fixed broadband services. Similarly, the OTNSpirit agent within optical transmission domains recommends differentiated routing based on bandwidth, latency, and reliability, enabling intelligent maintenance upgrades.

Conclusion

Kim Jin concluded by stating, "The AI era presents a unique opportunity for network operators, a chance that arises only once every decade. Huawei is committed to realizing an AI-centered all-optical target network in collaboration with industry partners. This initiative will not only enhance user experiences but also unlock additional network value, fostering mutually beneficial growth in this new AI era."

In summary, Huawei's innovative strategies and technologies promise to revolutionize the telecommunications landscape, reinforcing the role of AI in providing superior connectivity and user experiences in the future.