Li Peng, Huawei's corporate senior vice president and president of ICT Sales & Service, predicts that the symbiosis between 5G-A and AI technologies will stimulate double-digit growth in mobile subscribers' DOU (data of usage) and ARPU (average revenue per user).
Speaking at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2025, Li said: "By embracing and evolving 5G, we can unlock the infinite potential of mobile networks…Together, we can shape the D.N.A. for an intelligent world.”
Evolving network capabilities
AI-driven advancements in human-machine interaction require lower latency, which requires an ongoing evolution from 5G NSA to 5G SA and eventually 5G-A. Innovative technologies like Control and User Plane Separation and Guaranteed Bit Rate can also reduce basic latency.
Carriers will also need more spectrum, greater network capacity, and much larger uplink and downlink bandwidth as network traffic is expected to surge over the next 5 years.
With cloud phones and cloud drives being used by over one billion people by 2030, ongoing progress in network deployment is essential. The shift from 5G NSA to 5G SA will improve coverage and enhance user experience.
Monetising 5G in the AI era
Li noted that carriers worldwide are exploring new ways to monetise experience based on factors like speed, latency, and VIP benefits.
"The opportunities are huge," concluded Li. "And the time to act is now. Pioneers are already scaling up fast in over 200 cities around the world. They're taking solid steps forward, unlocking incredible new value."
