Driving Change: Huawei's Approach to AI and UBB
At the forefront of telecommunications innovation, James Chen, the President of Huawei's Carrier Business, has inspired many with his recent insights at the Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF) 2025. With a compelling keynote titled "Triple Leaps to AI UBB: Inspiring New Business Growth," Chen outlined transformative practices that operators can adopt to leverage AI-powered ultra-broadband (UBB) for significant growth.
Embracing the AI UBB Era
During his keynote speech, Chen emphasized that operators are embarking on major advancements by enhancing their business models through depth, breadth, and height. He remarked, "Leapfrog innovations drive great business success," spotlighting the immense opportunities available for operators.
A Leap in Depth
The transformation from bandwidth-focused services to experience-driven monetization represents a notable shift in the industry. By integrating AI with their network capabilities, operators can pinpoint exactly where application experience requires enhancement. This proactive approach ensures that key applications—such as AI-enabled cloud gaming and 4K livestreaming—provide top-tier experiences, thereby transitioning from user to application-level monetization.
For instance, a prominent operator in Thailand harnessed Huawei's AI WAN solution, enabling them to boost their application-level assurance capabilities significantly. The outcome? A more engaging gaming experience for users and a remarkable increase in average revenue per user (ARPU).
A Leap in Breadth
Shifting from traditional telecommunications, operators can now dive into the digital intelligence and computing sectors. In the home network landscape, global providers have over 1 billion home gateways, positioning them strongly to evolve into smart home service providers. Recently, Huawei introduced the AI HomeHub, which has proven successful for operators who adopted it, enhancing their ARPU from smart home services by an impressive 60%.
In the realm of small to medium enterprises (SMEs), operators are adopting fiber to the office (FTTO) solutions for unified service management. This strategy includes standard digital services that empower SMEs to embrace intelligent transformation. Major carriers in China have successfully deployed these FTTO solutions, amassing over 2 million users.
Furthermore, operators are integrating Wi-Fi-based sensing and communication systems to uncover new growth pathways. Visionary organizations are exploring applications like fall detection systems for elderly care and intelligent meeting room management. For example, a leading UAE operator utilized Huawei's AirEngine Wi-Fi 7 to create Wi-Fi-as-a-Service offerings, slashing the total cost of ownership (TCO) for innovative meeting room solutions by 67%.
In the emerging market of AI enterprise services, enterprises require robust networks that support capabilities like lossless transmission and heightened security. Working alongside China Telecom Shanghai, Huawei developed an intelligent IP WAN that significantly reduces computing usage inefficiencies.
A Leap in Height
To achieve more intelligent networks, operators are revolutionizing their operational strategies, moving from work-order-driven processes to intellectually sound operations. In a groundbreaking partnership, Huawei collaborated with MasOrange in Spain to create Europe’s first level 4 autonomous IP network. The implementation of iMaster NCE has enabled the operator to lower their mean time to repair (MTTR), enhancing user satisfaction remarkably.
As Chen concluded, the journey of AI UBB is only beginning. Huawei eagerly anticipates further collaboration with operators and industry partners to inspire continued innovation, aiming to assist them in succeeding amid the challenges and opportunities of the AI-driven era. Through effective experience monetization and operational expenditure (OPEX) reduction, Huawei is primed to lead the charge in the telecom industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AI UBB?
AI UBB refers to AI-powered ultra-broadband technologies that enhance network performance and user experiences.
Who is James Chen?
James Chen is the President of Huawei's Carrier Business, known for his leadership in driving telecom innovations.
How are operators benefiting from AI UBB?
Operators benefit by improving user experiences, increasing revenue streams, and expanding into new service areas.
What future plans does Huawei have regarding AI?
Huawei plans to further innovate in AI technologies to support operators in enhancing their services and operations.
Why is network autonomy important?
Network autonomy allows for greater efficiency and intelligence in operations, significantly improving service quality and customer satisfaction.
