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Optimizing 5G Network Value with AI: Li Peng's Vision

At the recent MWC Barcelona 2025, Li Peng, Huawei's Corporate Senior Vice President, delivered a vital presentation on the strategic integration of AI in enhancing the effectiveness of 5G networks. With the landscape of technology rapidly shifting towards a more intelligent world, Li emphasized that the convergence of 5G and AI is pivotal for operators striving to boost data utilization and revenue per mobile subscriber.

The Upcoming Intelligent World

According to Li, we are swiftly progressing into a fully intelligent environment where smart applications are becoming ubiquitous. This trend posits new demands on network infrastructures, prompting operators to embrace and evolve their 5G capabilities to unlock the inherent potential of mobile networks. "Huawei is committed to collaborating globally with operators and industry partners to promote digital transformation, strengthen network foundations, and democratize AI access," Li stated decisively.

Evolving Human-Machine Interaction

The evolution of AI is reshaping human-machine interaction from basic text communications to more complex engagements involving voice, gestures, and multimodal communications. This shift necessitates real-time functionality and a more user-friendly experience. For instance, AI-driven voice assistants allow users to interact naturally with their devices, while AI-enhanced avatars provide visual feedback, creating a more personalized experience in applications like health monitoring.

However, to support such advancements, networks must ensure lower latency. This transition entails moving from Non-Standalone (NSA) to Standalone (SA) 5G and ultimately to 5G-Advanced (5G-A). Operators can utilize innovative technologies such as Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS) and Guaranteed Bit Rate (GBR) to achieve targeted low latency for specific scenarios.

Transforming Content Creation and Distribution

Li highlighted how AI will revolutionize the production and distribution of content. Technologies like AI-Generated Content (AIGC) enable the effortless creation of extensive 2D and 3D videos, while AI-tailored recommendations facilitate personalized content delivery. These advancements are expected to ramp up network traffic over the next five years, requiring operators to expand their spectrum, increase network capacity, and enhance uplink/downlink bandwidths significantly.

Network Coverage and User Experience

As AI and cloud-enabled devices start to dominate the landscape, network coverage focused on user experience will become crucial. Projections suggest that over a billion people will rely on cloud-enabled phones and cloud readers by 2030, all of whom will need consistent and swift access to computational power. Furthermore, intelligent embedded applications will require comprehensive coverage in urban centers, highways, and rural areas to provide uninterrupted mobility experiences.

To achieve this, operators must progressively deploy networks from 5G NSA to 5G SA and finally 5G-A, enhancing coverage and ensuring a seamless experience for millions of new connections across devices and IoT.

An Application-Driven Approach to Operations

As network complexity grows, there will be a shift towards application-driven operations and maintenance, moving away from the traditional resource-centric methods. Some carriers are already developing AI-based operations and maintenance systems. By employing digital twins, AI agents can predict users' personalized needs, drastically shortening service deployment times. In network maintenance, self-learning AI can detect malfunctions swiftly, improving troubleshooting efficiency by up to 30%. Moreover, digital sandboxes enable AI agents to continuously analyze traffic patterns, optimizing networks 24/7 based on application needs.

New Revenue Models through Experience Monetization

Li underscored that the new capabilities enabled by AI and next-gen networks open avenues for innovative revenue models. Operators can move beyond mere traffic monetization and capitalize on delivering superior experiences. Currently, global operators are actively seeking innovative ways to monetize user experiences, addressing parameters such as speed, latency, and VIP privileges. Some have already ventured into the B2B2C market, showcasing their network capabilities through open APIs.

For example, Chinese telecom operators collaborate with over 100 firms, spanning sectors like insurance and catering, to offer AI-driven call services through open APIs, significantly enhancing industry revenue by tenfold.

Li concluded with optimism, stating, "The opportunities are vast, and it is time to act. Pioneers are already scaling up across more than 200 cities worldwide, making significant strides and unlocking incredible new value."

Conclusion

Those interested in further developments were encouraged to visit Huawei's stand at MWC 2025, which runs from March 3 to 6 in Barcelona, Spain. As the commercial rollout of 5G-Advanced accelerates, artificial intelligence will play a critical role in helping operators redefine their operations, infrastructure, and management practices.