Huawei used MWC Shanghai 2026 to push a clear message. Operators should prepare for networks built around artificial intelligence. They should also rethink how they earn revenue from digital services.
The company said carriers can no longer rely only on data traffic. Today, they sell capacity, speed, and coverage. Tomorrow, Huawei expects them to monetize both bytes and AI-generated tokens.
In simple terms, tokens measure AI work. They reflect how much processing an AI model performs. As AI agents become common, token usage could become a new billing layer.
This shift could open fresh revenue streams for mobile operators. AI assistants, smart glasses, and enterprise agents will need reliable mobile access. They will also need fast response times and strong uplink performance.
However, the model will demand major network upgrades. Operators must support more than download-heavy services. Many AI applications send constant data back to cloud or edge systems.
Huawei highlighted AI glasses as one example. Translation tools and immersive services may need uplink speeds near 20 Mbps. That creates pressure on radio networks and spectrum planning.
During a keynote, David Wang, Huawei’s deputy chairman and rotating chairman, said mobile networks keep expanding their role.
“With each generation, we have pushed the limits of spectral efficiency and performance,” Wang said. “Network architecture has gradually flattened, with new application scenarios and services emerging left and right. This has consistently expanded the boundaries of communications, helping carriers translate network capabilities into commercial value,” the executive said.
Huawei argued that future networks must combine communications, computing, and intelligence. This means networks should not only move data. They should also help route computing tasks efficiently.
That approach could improve service quality for AI applications. It may also help operators sell more advanced capabilities. Yet it also increases complexity across core networks, edge platforms, and operations systems.
The vendor presented an AI-centric target network for this transition. It focuses on real-time interaction and guaranteed connectivity. It also supports network-wide compute scheduling.
Huawei also outlined six priorities for the next decade. These include new mobile services, AI integration, and satellite-terrestrial network design. The list also covers spectrum planning and AI-native core specifications.
The satellite element matters for future coverage. Huawei expects terrestrial networks, satellites, and low-altitude platforms to work together. This could extend connectivity across remote areas and moving environments.
Finally, Huawei urged stronger global cooperation on 6G. It called for shared standards, aligned spectrum work, and broader ecosystem development. The message was clear: AI may reshape telecom economics, but coordination will shape its success.
