Huawei unveils Net5.5G solutions for ultra-fast internet and expanded carrier’ B2B offerings

Huawei unveiled its suite of Net5.5G-oriented solutions and products at MWC Barcelona on Feb. 26, aimed at helping carriers grow their revenues and handle increasing data demands.

The suite, bursting at the seams with the latest technology and algorithms, is designed to provide carriers with the infrastructure needed to handle the exponential growth of data driven by bandwidth-hungry generative AI, extended reality (XR) devices, and ultra-broadband applications.

"Operators' networks need to evolve to Net5.5G to meet the requirements of new services and applications," said Leon Wang, president of Huawei's Data Communication Product Line.

From the demands of new-generation XR headsets, requiring speeds up to 800 megabits per second, to autonomous vehicles transmitting terabytes of data per training session, increasing bandwidth requirements are pushing existing networks to their limits. OpenAI's text-to-video model Sora alone could increase network traffic more than tenfold, according to Wang.

And this is only the beginning. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 80% of enterprises, regardless of industry, will be engaged in using or developing generative AI, significantly increasing data production.

From the perspective of carriers' development, it's essential to build bearer networks to keep pace with the quick growth of services. Carriers' further growth can be supported only when they meet the experience requirements of consumption services, expand enterprise-oriented product portfolios, and improve the competitiveness of their services.

Therefore, Huawei's Net5.5G solutions are designed to help operators unlock new revenue streams in cloud computing, AI, and specialized enterprise services, promising lucrative outcomes for those who choose to invest.

The Net5.5G upgrades target four key areas: enabling 10Gbps internet speeds, integrating 400 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) into core and metro networks, modernizing data centers with up to 800GE ports for better computing power, and implementing efficient digital network mapping.

The upgrades span mobile, campus, bearer networks, and data centers, positioning carriers to meet future demands while unlocking new growth opportunities.

Mobile Backhaul Solution

Huawei's Net5.5G Mobile Backhaul Solution boosts mobile network capacity and allows scaling to 25GE, 50GE, 100GE, and 400GE. The solution introduces two state-of-the-art routers, including the ATN 910E-A, the world's first compact router capable of supporting 400Gbps.

But it's not just speed and capacity. Huawei's network digital map enhances user experience with real-time service optimization. According to Wang, a leading carrier that implemented the solution has seen increased user experience and improved user data usage.

Campus Network Solution

Huawei's Net5.5G Campus Network Solution aims to elevate internet service providers into advanced managed service providers for enterprise customers.

The solution is powered by cutting-edge new tech, including Huawei's new all-scenario Wi-Fi 7 AirEngine routers that double bandwidth and user capacity. Additionally, Huawei's latest CloudEngine multi-GE switches and super-converged gateways ensure flawless audio and video streaming without interruptions.

Huawei claims its solution, already implemented by various carriers, leads to a 17% increase in the average monthly rental of private lines.

Converged Transport Network Solution

Of course, upgrading to 10Gbps connections for mobile, home, and enterprise networks necessitates that backbone networks manage higher traffic and speed.

Enter Huawei's Net5.5G Converged Transport solution, which boasts end-to-end high-density 400GE capabilities to accommodate numerous 10Gbps connections.

Once again, Huawei was eager to highlight the potential for new revenue. Thanks to Huawei's Tenant-level Slice Private Line, carriers using the solution can deliver faster private networks at a fraction of the current costs. Wang stated that the ROI would be less than three years.

Data Center Network Solution

Huawei's Net5.5G Hyper-Converged DCN solution enables carriers to offer computing power as a rental service, ideal for companies needing to train AI models.

"We believe that computing power leasing services are a growth opportunity for carriers. Besides IDC equipment rooms and servers, operators also can provide computing power leasing services," stated Wang.

A key feature of this solution is Huawei's NSLB Algorithm, which significantly increases network data throughput capacity and improves AI model training efficiency by 20%, with a return on investment in less than 2.5 years.

Inspiring New Growth

The standout feature of Huawei's Net5.5G solutions, aside from the incredible technology, is that they are highly focused on growth. These solutions are not just about keeping operators' heads above water amid a data tsunami — a pitch that, perhaps unsurprisingly, has not resulted in optimal network investment.

Instead, Huawei has clearly been listening to investment-wary operators. From leasing cloud computing power and training AI models to offering more competitive specialized private lines for businesses, these new solutions provide a variety of revenue-boosting reasons for operators to upgrade.

While the threat of a data deluge means that operators must invest — at least eventually — the prospect of new revenue opportunities provides an appealing incentive, helping Huawei's Net5.5G solutions stand out from other vendors.

Wang's closing statement reinforced this point: "Let's work together to bring Net5.5G into reality and inspire new growth." The next few months will reveal how effectively this message resonated with the audience in Barcelona.