The global telecommunications industry, once a high-octane rocket ship of growth, is currently idling at the crossroads of maturity and saturation. Decades of breakneck expansion have brought connectivity gains worldwide, but the low-hanging fruit has been plucked. The imperative now is not just to maintain market share but to reignite growth engines in the face of stiffening winds. This shift in the landscape was the dominant narrative at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2025. At the forefront of this discussion was Huawei, with Rotating Chairman Xu Zhijun outlining a blueprint for revitalizing the industry. Huawei’s strategy, a fusion of artificial intelligence (AI), accelerated 5G evolution, and a gaze towards the horizon of 6G, is more than just a defensive play. It’s an active proposition for the entire industry, a set of potential pathways to navigate the shifting currents and unlock new value. The core of this vision is that the telecom sector can pull itself out of stagnation through strategic adaptation and relentless technological advancement.
AI: The Telecom Industry’s Shot of Adrenaline?
Xu Zhijun’s core argument revolves around the integration of AI across the entire telecom ecosystem, no small ask, bro. The message is clear: telecom operators must morph into “techcos,” a transformation facilitated by AI. The challenge, however, is that this AI deployment isn’t just about slapping AI features onto existing infrastructure; it’s about fundamentally rethinking how networks function and operate. Think upgrading from a clunky ’90s server to a sleek, cloud-native architecture.
Huawei’s answer is a new AI ultra-broadband solution, engineered to supercharge 5G network evolution. This isn’t your grandpa’s broadband; this is the kind with end-to-end built-in computing power. It represents a push toward smarter, more efficient networks capable of handling increasingly complex and demanding applications. Consider, for instance, the proliferation of IoT devices. These devices generate a tidal wave of data. AI can be implemented to manage this data, optimizing network performance and enabling predictive maintenance, which can result in reduced downtime and increased efficiency. Moreover, Huawei is actively playing in the sandbox of scenario-based AI applications, partnering with carriers and industry experts to build AI solutions tailored to specific needs. This aims to accelerate the commercial adoption of 5G-Advanced in 2025. Simply building out 5G infrastructure is not enough, says Huawei. Nope, the real ROI lies in how that infrastructure is wielded and optimized by intelligent systems.
The focus on AI is also a direct response to the looming threat of a stabilizing global market, where attracting new users is getting tougher than finding a decent cup of coffee at a tech conference (and that’s saying something). In a maturing market, where everyone already has a smartphone, the focus shifts to increasing ARPU (average revenue per user). AI offers a path to personalization and value-added services, which can convince users to upgrade or pay for premium features.
6G: Betting on the Distant Future While Fixing the Present
While working on short- and mid-term gains through 5G and AI advancements, Huawei has already has its telescope trained on the next generation of wireless technology: 6G. Xu Zhijun predicts that 6G will enter commercial use around 2030, a timeline that allows ample time for technology to play catch-up. He portrays 6G as key to sparking a “smart revolution.” Its potential to trigger unprecedented connectivity and innovation sets new opportunities where the sky’s the limits.
This long-term vision underscores Huawei’s commitment to sustained research and development, even while it grapples with the industry’s current challenges. Huawei’s Global Industry Vision 2025 report amplifies this forward-thinking approach, offering quantitative and qualitative predictions about what the future of industry society will look like. Huawei’s exploration of 6G goes beyond simply achieving technological dominance; it’s about anticipating future user needs and shaping the next stage of digital transformation. Their long history of groundbreaking mobile broadband technology, dating back to their initial support of 5G in 2013, positions them as a key player in shaping the standards and applications of 6G from now on. But 6G development is expensive. So, the question is, how can they fund this in light of all the sanctions, and still innovate?
Challenges and Ecosystem Building
Huawei continues to push the envelope on evolving user needs and how to identify new user segments to generate growth. Huawei is working hard to expand its AI ecosystem across various industries as well. They face numerous challenges like US tech sanctions. Despite those significant headwinds, Huawei continues to show resilience and is determined to remain a significant force in the global technology landscape.
Let’s be clear: Huawei’s strategy isn’t solely about hardware; it’s also heavily invested in software and developer tools, as evidenced by the upcoming HDC 2025 event. It’s a holistic approach to tech that will push this comprehensive ecosystem that is intended to cultivate innovation while drawing in a larger group of partners and developers. The appointment of Xu Zhijun as Rotating Chairman from April 1st to September 30th, 2025, signals a continuation of this strategic direction, with a focus on architectural innovation to address challenges like China’s computing power shortage. The whole enchilada is designed to empower an extensive range of partners and developers to buy into the collective.
Huawei’s vision, as articulated at MWC Shanghai 2025, transcends their direct business goals. It is a commentary on what the telecommunications industry must collectively embrace in order to thrive in the years ahead. Telecommunications networks drive global socioeconomics. To fully reap the dividends requires a commitment to adapting, innovating, and continuously connecting the world. If they fail to do so, those that depend on telecommunications may fall behind. Time to build those apps, bro! Now, if you’ll excuse me, my coffee budget needs some serious hacking.
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