China Surpasses 10 Million 5G-A Users as Huawei Highlights AI-Driven Growth and New Monetization Paths

5G-A Users Surpass 10 Million in China as Huawei Advances 5G-A and AI Integration

At MWC Shanghai 2025, Huawei highlighted key developments in 5G Advanced (5G-A) experience monetization and scenario-based AI services. Their event theme, "Accelerating the Intelligent World," reflects a focus on leveraging AI to create new value for carriers and their users.

Key Highlights from Huawei’s Presentation

Services

Huawei announced successful 5G-A monetization projects and AI application deployments in partnership with China’s three major carriers. These initiatives demonstrate practical paths to monetize enhanced 5G experiences through scenario-based AI applications, referred to as AItoX.

Infrastructure

The company showcased carrier-led efforts to build AI-centric networks. Huawei introduced a new AI Ultra-Broadband (AI UBB) solution that integrates computing capabilities across all network layers—from home broadband to transport. This end-to-end solution improves network autonomy and performance, facilitating better AI service experiences and supporting business growth.

Operations

Huawei and its partners shared advancements in intelligent wireless and home broadband network operations. Commercial rollout of 5G-A is expected to accelerate in 2025 in China, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, with carriers actively experimenting with monetization strategies for premium 5G-A services.

Industry Outlook and Growth Strategies

Eric Xu, Huawei’s Deputy Chairman and Rotating Chairman, outlined four growth pathways for the telecom industry in his keynote:

• Adapting to shifting user needs with high-growth potential services
• Expanding HD video supply and consumption via ecosystem collaboration
• Integrating 5G into vehicles to fuel intelligent connected vehicle markets
• Deploying Fiber To The Room (FTTR) solutions for micro and small businesses to leverage AI opportunities

Xu emphasized that carriers must customize these pathways based on their unique market conditions, business environments, and competitive landscapes.

China’s Lead in 5G-A Deployment

China has become a global front-runner in 5G-A, with coverage in over 300 cities and 5G-A plans available across more than 30 provinces. The country now counts over 10 million 5G-A users. Regional carriers, including those in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, are also exploring premium upgrade models to monetize the enhanced experiences enabled by 5G-A.

AI and 5G-A Driving Sector Transformation

5G-A delivers ultra-fast connectivity while enabling intelligent transformation across sectors like smart living, transportation, and manufacturing. AI-driven innovation is reshaping the communications industry, and the success of new monetization approaches signals a forthcoming era of growth.

Carriers hold unique advantages with their cloud, network, intelligence, and computing assets, positioning them to lead AI adoption. They are evolving by embedding AI into services, infrastructure, and operations, thus generating new business drivers.

Examples include:

• Rebranding as providers of personalized AI agents accessible to consumers
• Enhancing smart home ecosystems by enabling device coordination for improved companionship
• Expanding into in-vehicle services through AI agents integrated with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies, creating smart, mobile third spaces
• Strengthening business offerings with enhanced computing-network and model-based services

These trends indicate telecom carriers are actively transforming to meet evolving user demands and capitalize on AI’s potential.

For IT and development professionals interested in AI applications within telecom and beyond, exploring relevant AI courses can provide practical skills for contributing to this evolving landscape.