Huawei Leads the Way at Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2024: Advancing 5.5G and AI Integration

Jakarta, INTI - During the Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2024, Huawei hosted the highly anticipated 5.5G Industry Development Summit. The event brought together an impressive array of global industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers to delve into the future of connectivity. This year’s summit stood out as a milestone in advancing 5.5G networks, particularly with the integration of these cutting-edge networks into Mobile AI applications, setting the stage for operators’ commercial success. The discussions offered valuable insights and direction, providing a vibrant platform to reimagine and realize the future of digital connectivity.

James Chen, President of Carrier Business at Huawei, set a visionary tone in his opening speech, underscoring the transformative role of 5.5G and AI in shaping the telecommunications landscape. “With the advent of the Mobile AI era,” he stated, “low latency, high uplink bandwidth, and advanced autonomous driving capabilities have become the three key requirements for AI development. Huawei is committed to working with all sectors to accelerate the adoption of 5.5G through innovation, explore new opportunities in the AI era, and achieve joint business success.”

The summit demonstrated how 5.5G networks, combined with the rapid advancements in AI technologies, are creating a new frontier of possibilities. The discussions revolved around network readiness, technological innovations, and strategies for enabling seamless integration of AI-driven services, signaling a promising future for global connectivity.

Building Deterministic 5.5G Networks for Mobile AI

As technology continues to evolve at an extraordinary pace, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a concept of the future; it is a present-day reality that permeates every aspect of our lives. Li Jie, President of Huawei’s 5G & LTE TDD Product Line, highlighted the immense demands placed upon network capabilities as the industry transitions to the Mobile AI era. According to Li, over 100 types of AI-powered devices, including smartphones, robots, and smart glasses, are already transforming the tech ecosystem.

The surge in AI applications, such as those available through Huawei’s HarmonyOS, is redefining user interactions. These interactions are moving from unimodal to multimodal, extending from single-object use to dynamic, multi-environment applications. For example, AI-generated content is shifting human-machine interaction from isolated indoor activities to seamless, real-time outdoor experiences. This paradigm shift demands high-speed networks with deterministic capabilities that ensure low latency and exceptional reliability.

Li emphasized that the 5.5G networks are uniquely positioned to meet these demands. Time Division Duplex (TDD) networks, particularly with their 100 MHz bandwidth, offer significantly improved performance compared to 4G. This advancement is critical for enabling dynamic, real-time AI applications such as smart device interactions, robotics, and augmented reality (AR) experiences.

The Backbone of 5.5G: Advanced TDD Capabilities

TDD networks play a pivotal role in realizing the potential of 5.5G. Huawei’s commitment to advancing TDD technologies has resulted in groundbreaking solutions, such as the extremely large antenna array (ELAA) technology. ELAA extends the coverage of TDD networks and enhances their reliability, ensuring robust performance even in challenging environments. This innovation enables seamless connectivity, meeting the stringent requirements of AI-driven applications.

Huawei also introduced BladeAAU X, a hyper-integrated module supporting multiple frequency bands with a single antenna. This breakthrough is particularly beneficial for urban areas with limited installation space, allowing operators to maximize performance within existing infrastructure constraints.

Innovative TDD Solutions for AI-Driven Connectivity

Huawei’s suite of TDD solutions, including the M.E.P. series, is designed to address diverse coverage and deployment needs:

• MetaAAU (M): Meta Active Antenna Units enhance gigabit coverage and create a strong foundation for high-capacity networks. This technology uses advanced antenna arrays to boost signal quality and efficiency, making it ideal for dense urban areas.
• EasyAAU (E): A lightweight, easy-to-deploy solution that simplifies installation while optimizing network performance. EasyAAU is tailored for rapid deployment in urban and suburban settings, offering a cost-effective upgrade path for operators.
• PanoAAU (P): PanoAAU focuses on wide-angle, air-to-ground coverage, supporting applications like low-altitude drones and other aerial technologies.

These solutions collectively enable operators to build comprehensive, high-performance networks that cater to the unique demands of AI-powered applications.

Monetizing the 5.5G Era

The 5.5G era brings new revenue opportunities for operators, particularly through innovative data plans that integrate network, cloud, and AI capabilities. Leading operators, such as China Mobile Beijing, have already launched differentiated 5.5G services tailored to activities like gaming, live streaming, and business travel. These offerings, combined with AI-driven privileges, are attracting high-value users and driving significant revenue growth.

For instance, China Mobile Beijing’s 5G-A Differentiated Experience Service has successfully captured a growing user base by offering premium experiences in gaming and live events. The ability to monetize enhanced connectivity capabilities demonstrates the commercial viability of 5.5G and its role in fostering operator success.

Preparing for the Mobile AI Future

As Li Jie pointed out, the Mobile AI era presents a vast opportunity for operators willing to invest in deterministic 5.5G networks. Huawei’s advancements in TDD infrastructure provide the tools needed to meet the growing demand for high-quality, reliable AI interactions. These networks are crucial for enabling seamless, multi-dimensional user experiences, from autonomous driving to immersive AR applications.

Li concluded, “The Mobile AI era is an era of booming opportunities. By leveraging TDD’s high bandwidth and multi-dimensional connectivity, operators can deliver premium AI interaction experiences and adopt new monetization approaches for sustainable growth.”

Driving the 5.5G Ecosystem

The summit emphasized the need for an end-to-end ecosystem that enhances terminal maturity across consumer, business, and home services. By focusing on diverse service types, the industry aims to foster user adoption, satisfaction, and innovation. Huawei’s role in this ecosystem, through continuous technological iteration, positions the company as a leader in shaping the future of connectivity.

A Bold Vision for the Future

The Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2024 reaffirmed Huawei’s leadership in driving the evolution of 5.5G networks and their integration with Mobile AI. Through innovations in TDD technology and a focus on deterministic connectivity, Huawei is enabling operators to capitalize on new opportunities and meet the demands of the AI era. The summit serves as a guiding beacon for the industry, inspiring collective efforts to create a connected world that redefines human possibilities.