Shanghai – September 23, 2026 -- Huawei used a dedicated session at HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 to lay out a new architecture for wide area networks (WAN) built for AI-driven traffic, unveiling its Stellar AI Integrated Data WAN Solution and a jointly published white paper with GlobalData on intelligent WAN design for the agentic AI era.
Legacy WAN architecture cannot absorb AI's unpredictable traffic spikes, GlobalData warns
Dustin Kehoe, Head of AMEA Tech Research at GlobalData, told attendees that AI workloads generate massive, real-time data flows that conventional networks were never designed to handle. He said AI requires distributed, edge-enabled frameworks that process data closer to its source to cut latency and optimize bandwidth, alongside deterministic performance guarantees at a granular level.
Huawei says agentic AI is reversing network traffic patterns from downlink to uplink
Ado, CEO of Huawei's Wide Area Network Domain, described a structural shift in network usage: connections are moving from humans to autonomous agents, traffic is shifting from heavy downlink to massive uplink flows, and experience assurance now must cover entire agent workflows rather than single applications. He called for prioritized top-level planning across sectors to upgrade backbone experience, security, and edge devices, including quantum-resistant links and automated closed-loop security management.
New Stellar solution promises self-healing networks and multi-purpose ultra-broadband
Ethan Liu, Vice President of the Router Domain within Huawei's Data Communication Product Line, outlined four capabilities of the Stellar AI Integrated Data WAN Solution: converged ultra-broadband to remove bandwidth bottlenecks, multi-dimensional awareness to optimize computing power delivery for AI services, proactive network defenses, and autonomous operations designed to enable self-healing within minutes.
Huawei pushes national all-optical backbone target using 400G/800G and OTN-QKD integration
Nick Liu, Vice President of Huawei's Enterprise Optical Domain, presented a proposed national fiber target network built on ultra-broadband, flexibility, security, and intelligent operations and maintenance. The architecture combines 400G/800G transmission, all-optical cross-connect (OXC), OTN-QKD integration, 50 ms wavelength-switched optical networking (WSON), AI-DAS, and NOEMate technologies, which Huawei says can form national information highways supporting inclusive connectivity in remote and underserved regions.
Coverage gaps and digital service disparities persist despite accelerating AI adoption
Colin Hu, Vice President of Huawei's Global Public Sector BU, opened the session by noting that networks across sectors face dual pressure: extending coverage to underserved areas while enabling agile AI deployment. He said rising demands on network security, real-time performance, and deterministic assurance are colliding with persistent digital service disparities in remote regions, requiring networks that balance inclusive coverage with intelligence.