Huawei highlights AI integration in optical networking at UBBF 2024

At the 10th Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF 2024) held in Istanbul, Turkey, Bob Chen, the President of Huawei’s Optical Business Product Line, delivered a keynote speech centred around the theme “Build AI-Centric F5.5G All-Optical Network for New Growth”. The forum took place on 4th November 2024 and highlighted the advancements and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in optical networking technologies.

In his address, Chen emphasized the increasing prevalence of AI technology, noting that over 1,300 foundational AI models have already been applied across various industries. He pointed out that AI has become widely used in consumer electronics such as mobile phones, personal computers, and automobiles, and anticipated that AI would soon become an integral component of numerous end-user applications, simplifying tasks such as travel planning, code generation, and quality inspections.

Chen proposed that as the AI era advances, some telecom carriers are expected to evolve into comprehensive service providers, with AI as a core component of their offerings. Others might collaborate with third parties to deliver AI-related services, including computational resources and applications. He suggested that constructing robust infrastructure networks and “enhancing computing with networks” will be crucial for carriers aiming to thrive in this AI-driven age.

A focal point of Chen’s speech was Huawei’s continuous innovation in the field of F5.5G optical transmission, optical access, and management platforms. The company’s efforts are designed to assist carriers in building fully optical, AI-centric networks. In terms of optical transmission, Huawei has been extending its leading optical switching technologies to data centres and metro edges. These measures enhance the scalability and efficiency of AI computing within data centres and help establish low-latency mesh networks at metro edges, facilitating a superior end-to-end optical switching experience from backbone to metro areas. Notably, over 50 carriers globally have adopted Huawei’s optical switching technology, achieving 1 ms metro networks.

Regarding optical access, Chen noted the importance of delivering premium services via fixed broadband, underpinned by fibre-optic connections which ensure a reliable quality of service for users. Globally, only around 28% of users currently have access to fibre connections, highlighting an opportunity to expand these networks. Huawei’s solutions, including QuickConnect ODN and AirPON, offer cost-effective methods for carriers to expedite fibre network deployment.

In addition, Chen addressed bandwidth monetisation, suggesting that carriers optimise their fibre broadband tariffs and transition to enhanced services like 10G PON to meet growing user expectations for speed and reliability. Moreover, he described the potential of monetising user experiences, where the industry is increasingly shifting towards FTTR (Fibre to the Room) networks to provide consistent connectivity and support smart home technologies.

On the management and control front, Huawei utilises digital twin and AI-based models to enhance user experiences and operational efficiency in broadband and transmission services. The company’s Premium Broadband solution leverages automated troubleshooting to proactively address network issues, while the Premium Transmission solution deploys automated online planning to expedite new service rollouts.

Concluding his speech, Chen forecasted that AI would gain widespread adoption in the coming decade. He expressed Huawei’s commitment to partnering with industry leaders to construct AI-centric all-optical networks, leveraging new technologies to stimulate growth in the intelligent era.

Source: Noah Wire Services