The Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai events from 2024 through 2025 have become a critical lens through which to view the accelerating integration of 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology and artificial intelligence (AI), with China at the forefront of these transformative developments. As the world’s largest 5G market, China is both a stage and an active participant in unveiling how future mobile networks will reshape industries, urban landscapes, and consumer experiences. These gatherings, attracting global telecom providers, device manufacturers, and technology innovators, articulate a compelling vision centered on smarter, faster, and more interconnected digital ecosystems, where AI and next-gen connectivity are inseparable.
At the heart of this evolving narrative are industry giants like Huawei and China Mobile, whose leadership has been repeatedly showcased at MWC Shanghai. The 2024 event was particularly notable for Huawei’s introduction of its AI-empowered network ecosystem built around the RAN Intelligent Agent framework. This platform exemplifies the transformative potential of AI-driven automation in telecommunications, enabling real-time network management, operational automation, and the creation of new business models. It aims to tightly knit operators, service providers, and industries into a cohesive network intelligence fabric, pushing productivity boundaries while addressing dynamic application and device demands. However, as much as there is enthusiasm, operators have adopted a pragmatic tone regarding the timeline and scope of 5G-A deployment, reflecting a careful weighing of technological readiness against commercial and regulatory realities.
The significance of 5G-Advanced lies not in sheer speed improvements alone, but in its fundamental architectural evolution that integrates AI deeply into network operations. This iteration of 5G moves beyond the initial rollout’s basic connectivity, introducing AI-infused intelligence at multiple levels of the network. This includes enhanced radio access network capabilities, more sophisticated virtualization of network functions, and adaptive connectivity that aligns with the context of use—whether it’s low-latency demands for industrial automation or high-throughput needs for immersive media. Huawei and China Mobile’s pilots at MWC 2024 demonstrated how 5G-A acts as a catalyst for AI-powered services spanning intelligent Internet of Things (IoT) systems, ambient sensing environments, and automated industrial workflows. This marks a clear shift toward standalone 5G networks tailored for AI workloads that require stringent reliability and minimal latency.
Integrating AI models closer to the network edge emerged as a recurring theme. Sessions such as the “5G-A Industry Roundtable” and “Mobile AI Foundation Network Summit” explored the importance of deploying AI-driven intelligence not remotely but proximal to end-user devices to achieve real-time responsiveness. This edge computing synergy is fundamental for unlocking new applications in connected vehicles, smart manufacturing lines, and immersive entertainment platforms, underscoring a transition from raw connectivity to holistic intelligence. Such a network paradigm envisions AI not only managing data traffic but also dynamically adjusting network behaviors based on contextual inputs and predictive analytics, ushering in a new era where the network itself becomes a proactive entity.
The ecosystem development surrounding 5G-A and AI is just as pivotal as the technology itself. MWC Shanghai’s massive scale, featuring over 8,000 participating companies from more than 115 countries, highlights an unprecedented collaborative effort aimed at shaping unified standards, business models, and partnership frameworks essential for the commercial success of these technologies. Huawei’s “5G-A Pioneers Program” exemplifies this collective spirit by bringing leading global operators together to define interoperable use cases for network intelligence and accelerate readiness for market adoption. This illustrates that the industry’s approach is not a disconnected technological sprint but a coordinated race toward a mature, interconnected future.
Further emphasizing this collaborative orientation, device manufacturers like Honor, alongside VR innovators such as Pony.ai and aerial mobility companies like AutoFlight, demonstrate how diverse sectors converge on the 5G-A promise. Their involvement underscores the versatility of 5G-A-powered networks as the foundation for entirely new markets—ranging from virtual reality and autonomous vehicles to air taxis—where rapid data transfer and intelligent decision-making are non-negotiable essentials. The integration of AI and 5G thus extends beyond telecom circles, embodying a cross-industry transformation with broad-reaching societal and economic implications.
The financial and operational pathways for monetizing these AI-enhanced networks are likewise under intense scrutiny. Discussions at the “5G Monetisation Summit” and related forums focused on how traditional telco business models must evolve to capture value from AI-driven connectivity services. Operators are exploring innovative revenue streams enabled by smarter network management, service flexibility, and industry-specific vertical solutions, highlighting that the commercial viability of 5G-A relies on more than tech prowess—it requires strategic business innovation as well.
Despite these promising strides, challenges remain substantial. Operator keynote speeches at MWC Shanghai reveal an awareness of the complexities in integrating AI with existing infrastructure, navigating evolving regulatory landscapes, and managing the high capital expenditures required for nationwide 5G-A rollouts. These hurdles temper the rollout pace, suggesting that while the technology is robust, its deployment is meticulously paced to balance innovation with sustainability.
Geopolitical factors also subtly influence the unfolding landscape. Analysts suggest China’s approach to AI competition prioritizes sustainable leadership and cooperative innovation rather than aggressive one-upmanship. This philosophical stance shapes the measured yet determined rollout strategies for 5G-A, emphasizing collaborative ecosystem building over fast but fragmented market pushes.
Looking forward to the 2025 MWC Shanghai event, expectations are high for deeper explorations into the fusion of AI, IoT, and next-generation 5G networks. Themes like “Converge, Connect, Create” and the enduring “Future First” motif capture the industry’s joint ambition to harness this convergence to drive autonomous logistics, real-time supply chain optimization, and intelligent manufacturing. These scenarios epitomize the real-world impact of marrying AI and 5G-A, offering tangible benefits that stretch far beyond the world of gadgets and apps.
In sum, MWC Shanghai has become a powerful barometer tracing the trajectory of 5G-Advanced as a cornerstone of the mobile AI era. The event’s blend of collaborative programs, pioneering technological demonstrations, and cross-sector innovation vividly illustrates how China’s telecom ecosystem is leading the charge in coevolving AI and 5G to redefine connectivity. While operator caution tempers the pace of 5G-A commercial rollout, the breadth and depth of engagement across industries signal a steadfast commitment to this future. As these technologies mature and integrate more deeply, the ongoing dialogue and displays at MWC Shanghai will continue to guide the global mobile industry toward a smarter, more connected, and increasingly intelligent world.
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