Telecom leaders are starting to define what comes after 5G. For China Telecom, the answer is not only faster radio access. It is a new network model built around artificial intelligence, computing, storage, and automation.
Yue Wang, chief technologist at China Telecom, said today’s networks cannot fully support future AI services. Speaking at the RCRTech Telco AI Forum, she argued that 6G needs a deeper architectural shift.
Current telecom systems still rely on fixed interfaces and human-designed control rules. That model delivers stability. Yet it may struggle with AI applications that change quickly. Robotics, industrial automation, and physical AI will need fast responses and local computing.
Wang described AI-native networks across three layers. “The first is the infrastructure layer. So this is where the network computes storage AI resources needs to be planned and deployed. And then the second layer is the operational layer. This is where you optimize and orchestrate all the resources. And then the third is the service layer. This is where the network can support the AI services,” she said.
This approach links network capacity with computing resources. In simple terms, the network must know where processing power sits. It must then route traffic toward the right compute location. That can reduce delay and improve service quality.
However, operators cannot reach this goal by adding AI tools alone. Many existing platforms were not designed for real-time AI decisions. Wang highlighted the issue directly. “The data is not AI ready. The APIs are not always designed for closed loop control. Network functions are not designed with, the AI lifecycle management, real-time decision making, etc.,” the China Telecom executive added.
The shift could open new revenue paths for carriers. Networks may support services that need both connectivity and computing. Enterprises could use them for factories, vehicles, healthcare, and smart city systems.
At the same time, the transition will demand careful governance. Telecom networks carry critical services. Operators cannot allow unstable AI actions inside live carrier systems. Wang made that point clear. “AI must adapt to telecom requirements, because network is a critical infrastructure. We can’t allow uncontrollable decisions, for example, in a live carrier network,” she said.
The wider message is that telecom and cloud must converge. Operators may need new platforms, teams, and operating models. They must expose network, compute, data, intelligence, and assurance capabilities together.
Wang framed success in practical terms. “We will know that we are on the right path of AI native 6G when the network can seamlessly expose and orchestrate the communication, compute, data, intelligence, and assurance as the capabilities to our customers,” she said.
