During the MWC Barcelona 2025 trade show, Bob Chen, President of the Huawei Optical Product Line, outlined the theory of optical network development towards AI Optical Networks (AI ON) in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). The goal of this transformation is to provide 5A-quality connectivity, laying a solid foundation for AI growth and prosperity.
The era of artificial intelligence is characterized by three key features: ubiquitous AI application, ubiquitous AI computing power, and ubiquitous native AI. These trends require networks that can recognize service types, provide differentiated connectivity, and ensure optimal services. Additionally, networks must offer deterministic connectivity to support flexible and efficient computation planning while integrating AI features to enhance service quality and network efficiency.
Bob Chen emphasized that since unleashing the target network for the AI era in 2024, Huawei has been collaborating with global customers to support continuous innovation. The new generation of optical networks, known as AI ON, is now clearer and characterized by the following attributes:
– Awareness: Future optical networks must precisely identify service types based on traffic patterns and flow directions to meet bandwidth, latency, and reliability requirements, enabling networks to better understand and adapt to service needs.
– On-demand: Unlike in the past when networks offered undifferentiated connectivity, future optical networks must provide real-time differentiated connectivity tailored to specific service requirements. For example, a gaming user may be offered a three-hour package with a bandwidth of 1 Gb/s.
– Certainty: Future optical networks must guarantee high-quality connectivity regardless of network changes or service fluctuations, ensuring deterministic latency and zero packet loss for all services.
– Autonomous operation and maintenance: Future networks must go beyond reactive maintenance to actively identify and mitigate potential risks before affecting users, achieving self-healing and optimization.
– Native artificial intelligence: Full-fledged AI functions must be embedded in network terminals, devices, and management systems to accelerate network intelligence. For example, AI computing power with ONT/FTTR technology identifies application types and enhances device performance using small models on terminals.
In conclusion, Bob Chen noted that AI represents a transformative shift in human society and offers unprecedented opportunities for the ICT industry. Just as 5A signifies the highest service quality in industries like hospitality and tourism, premium connectivity will be essential to leverage these opportunities. Huawei is committed to collaborating with the industry to advance optical networks towards AI ON, provide 5A-quality connectivity, and support new growth in the era of artificial intelligence.
