Huawei executive forecasts AI-driven 5G network growth

Huawei's Li Peng has addressed carriers on the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance 5G networks, predicting notable growth in data usage and revenue from mobile subscribers.

Li Peng, Corporate Senior Vice President and President of ICT Sales & Service at Huawei, highlighted the evolving nature of human-machine interaction due to AI developments.

"We're rapidly entering a fully intelligent world. Intelligent applications are spreading everywhere, placing new demands on networks. By embracing and evolving 5G, we can unlock the infinite potential of mobile networks," he said.

"Huawei is willing and ready to work with carriers and industry partners around the world to promote digital enablement, reinforce network foundations, and bring AI to all. Together, we can shape the DNA for an intelligent world."

As AI continues to transform human-machine interaction beyond text to voice and gestures, there is an increasing demand for real-time network capabilities. New applications such as AI-powered voice assistants and avatars require networks to provide guaranteed latency, a progression that Li suggests will advance from current 5G NSA structures to more advanced 5G-A networks.

Technologies like Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS) and Guaranteed Bit Rate (GBR) are expected to play a role in achieving lower latency.

Further transforming the digital landscape, AI in content production and distribution has increased network demand for speed. Improvements such as automated video generation and targeted content distribution have been highlighted.

Rising network traffic is an anticipated consequence, and Li highlights this will "necessitate carriers to expand spectrum and network capacity", along with enhancing bandwidth capabilities for uploads and downloads.

He emphasised the need for experience-centric network coverage driven by the proliferation of AI-powered services.

This requires "continuous advancements" in the deployment of 5G networks, expected to transition partially to 5G SA networks and eventually to 5G-A networks.

Li cited third-party data predicting over a billion users of cloud-based mobile solutions by 2030, necessitating robust and reliable network infrastructures.

The introduction of increasingly complex application scenarios due to AI is pushing network operations towards becoming more application-oriented. Some carriers are adopting AI agents for operations and monitoring, enhancing efficiency in troubleshooting and network optimisation with tools like digital sandboxes and digital twins.

Li also discussed the evolution of monetisation strategies among carriers, particularly in relation to network capabilities beyond traffic. He mentioned, "New network capabilities will give rise to new business models. Carriers can go beyond monetizing traffic and start monetizing experience itself."

He also noted the new opportunities opening in the B2B2C market, as exemplified by Chinese carriers expanding their industry services through Open APIs.

"The opportunities are huge, and the time to act is now," he stressed.

"Pioneers are already scaling up fast in over 200 cities around the world. They're taking solid steps forward, unlocking incredible new value."