Sustainability is another important factor in making money from telco services – energy-efficient networks not only cut costs but also attract businesses focused on reducing their carbon footprint.
For enterprise customers, there’s a growing demand for network slicing to offer customized services for different business needs. Huawei is already working on campus networks to bring in more cash. In industries like manufacturing and logistics, the high-tech features of 5G-A are helping with smart factories and remote inspections, according to Chen.
In wrapping up, Chen’s calling on operators worldwide to step on it: “The 5G-A window is open. The leaders in innovation and making money off it will shape the telecom landscape in the next decade.”
At MWC Shanghai 2025, Huawei’s chairman Eric Xu laid out a plan to keep telco growth going, urging operators to adapt to the changing needs driven by 5G-A, AI, and high-def video. Xu pointed out that revenue growth is slow in mature markets where basic needs are already met and there’s lots of infrastructure in place.
According to Chen, the quality of the network experience is crucial for making dollar bills. In China, carriers are already offering different service packages based on metrics like latency and upload speed. This matters a lot in scenarios like HD video calls and mobile gaming on the cloud.
He stresses that transitioning from 5G to 5G-A could be a game-changer in both consumer and business markets. But Chen warns that it’ll only work if companies can provide top-notch user experiences, tailor services for different industries, and maintain quality standards.
AI is another key player in squeezing out every penny from 5G-A. Chen explains how AI can optimize things like spectrum use, predict traffic patterns, and save energy, which means lower costs and better service.
If we slice up the network for different industries, we can see some serious growth potential. Customized service delivery through network slicing is opening up new revenue sources in areas like logistics, manufacturing, and smart campuses.
So, here’s the deal:
Let’s talk about how user experience can make you money – James Chen from Huawei reckons that 5G-A technology is allowing for all sorts of cool consumer offerings like super-fast uplink tiers. The Chinese carriers are already cashing in with live streaming and video services.
When it comes to adding value, you can’t beat AI. Smart network management and energy-efficient setups using AI can help control costs and make the most out of those 5G-A services.
Over in Shanghai, the big talk at MWC was about how telco operators need to hustle to turn these 5G-Advanced (5G-A) networks into cash cows. James Chen, the bigwig from Huawei’s carrier business group, says the key is to focus on creating unique user experiences, slicing up networks for different industries, and using AI to optimize operations.
Chen emphasizes that we need innovation at the app level alongside network improvements. The key is to align service agreements with new ways to make money. Huawei is pitching in with “experience-oriented” platforms to help operators tailor network planning and product design to users’ needs.
