Embracing the AI era, building future-oriented intelligent IP networks

At AfricaCom 2025, held in Cape Town, Wang Hui, President of the NCE Data Communication Domain of Huawei’s Data Communication Product Line, delivered a keynote speech titled “Embracing the AI Era, Building Future-Oriented Intelligent IP Networks” at the “Telecoms For Tomorrow” forum.

He shared Huawei’s approach to leveraging large model technologies for intelligent IP network transformation, ushering in a new era of autonomous intelligence.

AI has entered the Agentic AI era of autonomous intelligence. While driving transformation across diversified business models, it also imposes new demands on networks. AI is now deeply applied to serve network operations. Huawei’s AI-Centric architecture comprehensively upgrades intelligent IP networks by building three key capabilities: AI Router, AI New Map, and AI New Brain.

AI Router: It perceives upward to the application layer to perform precise flow sampling, identification, and protection for applications; and perceives down to the optical path layer to achieve precise fault demarcation, fibre-break location, and failure prediction. These six "precise" capabilities establish a robust foundation for AI-Centric IP networks.

AI New Map: Four major upgrades—visualisation with one map, one-click optimisation, intelligent network-wide connectivity, and one-card access - enhance Network Digital Map data with "More, Faster, Better, and Less Resource-Intensive" features, comprehensively building a fully functional AI-Centric IP network platform.

AI New Brain: Based on capabilities such as intent-understanding, logical reasoning, content generation, and tool utilisation, AI Network Brain redefines IP network optimisation processes with OptimSpirit, fault resolution with FaultSpirit, and network changes with ChangeSpirit. These three "redefinitions" advance operational workflows from "machine-assisted human operations" to "human-augmented machine operations".

Wang Hui said: “As the target architecture for future intelligent IP networks, L4 autonomous networks require full-stack AI integration across device, connectivity, and management service layers. Huawei develops network agents by focusing on high-value scenarios, including IP network modification, optimisation, troubleshooting, and campus network enhancement, enabling customers to reinvent network operation and maintenance models, thereby initiating a new paradigm for efficient autonomous network operations.”

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