Jakarta, INTI - At MWC Shanghai 2026, the AI-ON Summit was held under the theme "Networks for AI, AI for Networks," bringing together representatives from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), global telecom operators, industry partners, and Huawei to discuss the evolution of optical networks in the emerging AI and token monetization era.
Participants shared insights into next-generation broadband services, including ultra-gigabit and 10 Gbps connectivity, as well as the growing convergence of networking and computing infrastructure. During the summit, Huawei unveiled 10 new AI-Optical Network (AI-ON) products and solutions designed to help operators build AI-native all-optical networks while accelerating the adoption of AI-powered services.
The discussions also highlighted the ITU's ION-2030 vision, introduced in October 2025, which outlines the roadmap for next-generation optical networking. According to Ao Li, Vice President of CAICT, optical networks and artificial intelligence will increasingly complement one another, with AI enabling highly autonomous networks while optical infrastructure supports large-scale AI computing workloads more efficiently.
Ao added that China is transitioning from nationwide gigabit connectivity toward the 10G broadband era, expanding ultra-gigabit broadband services and laying a stronger all-optical foundation for the country's digital economy.
AI Creates New Revenue Opportunities for Telecom Operators
As AI reshapes digital lifestyles and enterprise productivity, telecommunications operators are evolving beyond traditional connectivity services toward value-added digital offerings.
Representatives from China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Zain Jordan, and Shunwang Technology shared how faster broadband networks are enabling smarter home connectivity, AI-powered digital services, and proactive customer support.
For enterprises, enhanced private network connectivity and integrated networking-computing capabilities are improving access to high-performance computing resources needed for AI applications.
These developments are helping operators unlock new revenue streams by expanding premium broadband services, strengthening customer engagement, and delivering AI-driven digital experiences.
Huawei Introduces AI-ON Portfolio for the AI Era
To support operators in the transition toward AI-enabled networks, Huawei introduced an expanded portfolio of AI-Optical Network solutions covering residential broadband, transport networks, data center interconnection, and network resilience.
According to Kim Jin, Vice President of Huawei's Optical Business Product Line, Huawei continues to advance the convergence of optical networking and AI through innovations that enable operators to build intelligent all-optical target networks while supporting ultra-gigabit connectivity and high-quality computing services.
Among the new solutions are the AI-FTTR portfolio, including AI home hubs, AI smart boxes, and Wi-Fi 7 FTTR products, alongside the industry's first high-density 50G PON service board designed for large-scale commercial deployment.
Huawei also introduced solutions for 1-millisecond latency computing networks, including Mini OXC, end-to-end OSU/fgOTN, and OTN-QKD integration. To support rapidly growing AI workloads across hyperscale data centers, the company unveiled ultra-large-scale Optical Transport Network (OTN) cluster solutions for domestic and international Data Center Interconnect (DCI), as well as integrated submarine and terrestrial optical cable solutions.
In addition, Huawei launched new resilience technologies such as AI DAS and 50 ms WSON, aimed at improving the reliability and availability of next-generation optical infrastructure.
Conclusion
The AI-ON Summit highlighted the growing role of AI-powered optical networks in supporting ultra-fast connectivity, intelligent network operations, and high-performance computing. As AI adoption accelerates, AI-optical infrastructure is expected to become a critical foundation for the next phase of global digital growth.
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