#Huawei #Vienna #Austria #AIDC #OTN

Huawei Unveils Next-Generation OTN for Fully Optical Networks

At the recent NetworkX 2026 event held in Vienna, Huawei introduced its ambitious vision for establishing a fully optical network aimed at Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC). This unveiling took place during the Optical Transport Innovation Summit, where the company outlined how its cutting-edge Generation OTN (Optical Transport Network) solutions can significantly accelerate business growth for operators.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Network Development

Huawei’s discourse highlighted the swift evolution of artificial intelligence and its consequent generation of three distinct waves of opportunity for telecom operators. These include direct connectivity for hyper-scale companies, dedicated lines for enterprise computing, and integrated computing and networking services. This shift represents a transformative phase from traditional networks serving consumers and home users to networks catering to business needs and AI applications.

Gavin Gu, the head of Huawei's Optical Transmission Division, emphasized the necessity for operators to embrace AIDC-focused networks in order to leverage these opportunities. He introduced the LIGHTS target network, characterized by six essential features: ultra-low latency, intelligent operations, environmentally-friendly infrastructure, high reliability, terabit-level capacity, and security assurance.

Huawei's Next-Generation OTN Solutions

The Next-Generation OTN presented by Huawei offers ultra-high-speed capacities ranging from 800G to 2T, managing to deliver versatile capacity distribution with minimal resource utilization. This remarkable capability allows operators to accelerate their time-to-market (TTM), maximize fiber capacity, and meet the high bandwidth demands of Data Center Interconnect (DCI) traffic effectively.

Additionally, for Data Center Architecture (DCA), Huawei provides an end-to-end (E2E) Optical Cross-Connect (OXC) that guarantees high availability with millisecond-level Wavelength Switched Optical Networks (WSON). The solution also features flexible bandwidth options ranging from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps, alongside an integrated Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution for enhanced security measures. The new OTN not only advances hardware but also optimizes software to deliver a seamless connectivity experience.

Supporting Business Growth through LIGHTS

The technology behind the LIGHTS fully optical network empowers operators to transition from a bandwidth-focused sales model to one that offers core capabilities and value-added services. With dedicated lines for computational power, operators can shift from a singular bandwidth dimension to a multi-faceted approach that considers bandwidth, latency, reliability, and security.

This evolution supports operators in offering differentiated services across various industries, thereby enhancing their market pricing power. Furthermore, a trend toward the convergence of computing and networking services is intensifying. For instance, operators in Hubei, China, are increasingly integrating their advantages in network and computing fields to offer cohesive services in key sectors such as education, healthcare, and finance.

In this AI-driven era, the LIGHTS network stands as a crucial asset for operators aiming to capitalize on AI-centered opportunities, enabling them to generate revenue from their networks and experience substantial business growth. Huawei firmly commits to collaborating with industry partners to foster technological innovations and accelerate the optical transmission sector’s transition into the age of AI.