MWC Shanghai: AI in focus as China’s telecoms operators and gear makers seek new growth

Senior executives from China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, Huawei and ZTE presented their AI strategies at the MWC Shanghai trade show

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Visitors interact with Lenovo Group’s robot at the opening of the MWC Shanghai trade show on June 26, 2024. Photo: AFP

Ann Caoin ShanghaiandWency Chenin Shanghai

Published: 7:00am, 27 Jun 2024Updated: 2:43pm, 27 Jun 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) took centre stage at MWC Shanghai, the regional edition of the world’s largest mobile communications industry trade show, as China’s telecommunications network operators and equipment suppliers look to advances in the technology to bolster their businesses.

Senior executives from China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp presented their AI strategies at Wednesday’s opening of MWC Shanghai, which runs until Friday. The event’s main themes are the “AI Economy”, “5G and Beyond” and “Manufacturing DX”, referring to digital transformation.

China Mobile – the world’s largest wireless network operator by number of subscribers, with 998.44 million at the end of May – is pushing AI initiatives that cover native applications, emerging technologies and so-called future industries, according to chairman Yang Jie’s remarks at the conference.

New AI initiatives form part of a broader trend for telecoms network operators to transform their businesses amid slowing user growth around the world, China Unicom chairman Chen Zhongyue said in his keynote address.

Showing the telecoms industry’s sharpened focus on artificial intelligence, an AI processor from Nvidia was put on display at the opening of the MWC Shanghai trade show on June 26, 2024. Photo: AFP

“The traditional business based on network communications is becoming saturated, and the growth in user numbers is slowing down,” Chen said. He cited data showing mobile broadband user growth for major telecoms operators worldwide had dropped to 2.3 per cent at the end of last year, from 34.3 per cent in 2014.