China Unicom and Huawei Unveil Innovation Achievements to Forge Differentiated 5G-A Competitive Edge

[Barcelona, Spain, February 28, 2024] During MWC Barcelona 2024, Huawei and China Unicom hosted an innovation release ceremony themed “AI Empowers Connections and Computing”, during which they unveiled pioneering cooperative achievements such as 5G-A, FTTR 3.0, and the AI foundation model.

At the ceremony, Liang Baojun, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom, and Li Peng, Senior Vice President of Huawei and President of Huawei ICT Sales & Service Dept, delivered speeches alongside leaders from GSMA and China Communications Standards Association. Ma Hongbing, General Manager of China Unicom’s Science and Technology Innovation Dept, released the innovation achievements, and several other industry representatives delivered keynote speeches.

Liang Baojun detailed the coordinated evolution of China Unicom’s unified communications and computing-powered digital intelligence businesses, which has driven constant improvements in terms of the company’s network capabilities, computing power, and AI foundation models. Liang said, “Unleashing the boundless potential and expansive growth opportunities within the digital and intelligent world necessitates collaborative efforts from all global stakeholders. China Unicom has been actively driving the deployment of 5G-A pilot networks and sample sites to achieve 10 Gbps downlink and 1 Gbps intelligent uplink, and boost service assurance capabilities. We have also been steadily enhancing our integrated computing, training, and inference capabilities to bring AI to both the consumer Internet and industrial Internet.”

Li Peng said, “China Unicom and Huawei have been working closely for years. We have been innovating nonstop to lead the industry in 5G. In 2024, Huawei will continue to support China Unicom’s innovation in networks, services, and ecosystem development to forge a differentiated competitive edge in the 5G-A era. Together, we will help drive new growth in the industry.” Li also noted that, as the transition from 5G to 5G-A gains momentum, Huawei and China Unicom are poised to further their innovation in 5G-A network technologies and scenario-based applications. The collaborative efforts between the two companies will drive standards and business maturity through leading network experience and applications.

Ma Hongbing stated that China Unicom has accomplished notable technological innovations in ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), RedCap, and passive IoT over the past year. In January 2024, the company reached a significant milestone by successfully completing China’s first large-scale 5G-A networking showcase in Beijing. This signified that China Unicom’s 5G Capital innovation project has entered the 5G-A era. The next-generation iFTTR product OptiXstar F50 played a pivotal role in supporting China Unicom’s FTTR 3.0 solution to comprehensively upgrade the network, ecosystem, and terminal connections. Moreover, China Unicom’s integrated computing power has laid the groundwork for developing foundational models, intelligent networks, service transformation, and applications for smart living.

John Gao, President of the 5G-A Domain of Huawei Wireless Network Product Line, highlighted that the joint innovation between the two parties has empowered the pioneering launch of key 5G-A technologies, such as URLLC, multi-band serving cell (MBSC), and RedCap. 2024 will be the inaugural year of 5G-A commercial use. The 5G-A era will be spearheaded by China Unicom, as they establish cutting-edge commercial networks with top-tier services and unmatched user experiences, all with the unwavering support of Huawei.

During the ceremony, Ma Hongbing, General Manager of China Unicom’s Science and Technology Innovation Dept, and Ma Hongbo, President of Huawei’s Wireless MAE Domain, signed the Wireless Network Open API Joint Innovation MoU. Together, China Unicom and Huawei will delve into the business potential and opportunities regarding the monetization of wireless network capabilities.

MWC Barcelona 2024 will be held from February 26 to February 29 in Barcelona, Spain. During the event, Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions at stand 1H50 in Fira Gran Via Hall 1.

With the 2024 commercial launch of 5.5G, Huawei is collaborating with operators and partners around the world to pursue exciting new innovation in networks, cloud, and intelligence. Together, we will drive 5G business and foster a thriving industry ecosystem, creating a new era for intelligent digital transformation. For more information, please visit: https://carrier.huawei.com/en/events/mwc2024