As we navigate through 2024 and gear up for 2025, we are witnessing a pivotal moment in technological evolution where two transformative forces—5.5G (also referred to as 5G-Advanced or 5G-A) networks and artificial intelligence (AI)—are converging to reshape our digital landscape. The commercial launch of 5.5G, coinciding with an extraordinary multiplying of AI applications, marks a watershed moment in technological history. With over three million AI-capable applications now developed globally, surpassing the total number of traditional apps available in app stores, we are entering an entirely new paradigm: the Mobile AI era.
This convergence represents far more than the sum of its parts. While previous technological advances have incrementally improved our capabilities, the marriage of 5.5G and AI promises to fundamentally transform how we interact with technology, conduct business, and structure our societies. The implications of this transformation extend far beyond the telecommunications industry, touching every sector of the global economy and reshaping the fabric of our digital interactions.
With the emergence of Mobile AI, we need to rethink our understanding of connectivity and computing power. Traditional boundaries between device capabilities and network infrastructure are blurred to create an ecosystem where intelligence is ubiquitous and seamlessly integrated. This new era brings forth unprecedented forms of human-machine interaction, spawning intelligent services previously confined to science fiction. The structural changes in traffic models and data consumption patterns we observe are the initial indicators of a more profound transformation underway.
Telecoms as the foundation of the Mobile AI era
Telecommunications carriers stand at the heart of this revolution, positioned as the crucial enablers of this new technological shift. Their evolution from traditional service providers to sophisticated technology companies (Techcos) represents a fundamental reimagining of their role in the digital ecosystem. Modern consumers increasingly demand services that are not only real-time and on-demand but also intelligent and predictive, expecting seamless integration across platforms and personalized experiences. Leading carriers worldwide have already demonstrated the remarkable potential of AI service capabilities on live 5.5G networks, showcasing applications that span personal use, smart homes, transportation systems, and enterprise operations.
If telecommunication carriers are the heart, the integration of 5.5G or 5G-A technology is the soul that unleashes AI’s full potential in mobile environments. This provides the essential combination of high bandwidth, low latency, and massive connection density required to support advanced AI applications at scale. The sophistication of 5.5G networks enables real-time processing of complex AI algorithms, facilitating everything from autonomous vehicles to smart manufacturing systems.
The recent development of “Mobile going AI,” where new service and business models are transforming mobile internet services, and “AI going Mobile”, where new mobile services like smart vehicles and robots create new momentum for both society and the mobile industry, particularly as 5.5G networks demonstrate their capability to support diversified connections, experiences, and services needed to address new requirements coming from AI agents, smart vehicles, and embodied intelligence. As the rapid development of these technologies accelerates the Fourth Industrial Revolution, AI emerges as a principal driver of global economic growth, transforming multiple markets simultaneously while creating new opportunities and disrupting traditional business models.
Huawei
Connecting underserved areas and driving digital economies
The deployment of advanced 5G technologies, particularly Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), plays a transformative role in developing regional digital economies. These technologies are instrumental in bridging the digital divide and achieving meaningful connectivity goals, particularly in underserved areas where traditional infrastructure deployment has been challenging. The impact of this technological democratization extends far beyond simple internet access, enabling new forms of digital participation and economic opportunity.
The impact of 5.5G or 5G-A technology spans multiple sectors, each with its transformative potential. In healthcare, it enables remote surgery and real-time patient monitoring. In education, it facilitates immersive learning experiences and personalized instruction at scale. In industrial applications, it powers smart factories and autonomous systems. The technology’s enhanced machine learning capabilities support extended reality applications, industrial IoT implementations, and precision agriculture initiatives, directly contributing to sustainable development goals while driving economic growth.
The GCC region stands at the forefront of global 5G deployment, positioning itself to fully exploit 5.5G commercialization and its transformative use cases. This leadership is particularly significant given the proven correlation between ICT industry development and national economic growth. According to Huawei’s Global Digitalization Index (GDI), a one-US-dollar investment in digital transformation yields an impressive 8.3-US-dollar return in a country’s digital economy. This research, covering 77 countries representing 93% of global GDP and 80% of the world’s population, demonstrates the crucial role of ICT investment in building robust digital economies.
The path to realizing the full potential of Mobile AI requires unprecedented collaboration among ecosystem stakeholders. Public-private partnerships are crucial in accelerating adoption and ensuring equitable access to these transformative technologies. Sharing knowledge, insights, and experiences among key players is essential for inspiring the next generation of digital transformation and achieving regional digital ambitions.
Moving forward, it’s clear that the convergence of 5.5G and AI is a fundamental shift in how we approach digital transformation and sustainable development. The Mobile AI era promises to deliver not only economic benefits but also social and environmental improvements through more efficient resource utilization and intelligent system optimization.
