The Beginning of Huawei’s 5G-Advanced Era

Huawei is advancing its plans with a determined attitude that is almost unnoticed. Although many major telecommunications companies around the world are still working on 5G, Huawei has already made plans for the next era—5G-Advanced. The company has made a forecast that by the end of 2025, there will be around 100 million smartphones that will be able to work with the next-generation network, along with more than 50 large-scale 5G-A networks that will be functioning across the globe. The mentioned numbers, which were disclosed in reports by TechRadar and Huawei itself, are the foundation of the company’s strategy to secure the leading position during the next phase of wireless communication.

While the discussions about the new technology, sixth generation, are still hypothetical, the way of working of Huawei looks very much like an execution. The company’s path is a mix of courage and wisdom—creating technologies that not only have the potential of being commercialised but also the limits of what 5G can do are being pushed to the maximum.

Beyond Speed: What 5G-Advanced Represents

For most people, 5G meant faster downloads and smoother streaming. But Huawei’s 5G Advanced is more than an incremental improvement—it’s a structural shift. It aims to connect billions of devices intelligently, with lower latency and higher bandwidth. Huawei has made a statement that 5G-A Networks are capable of providing a download speed of 10 Gbps and also the connection stability in high-traffic areas like smart cities, factories, and transportation hubs.

Central to this evolution is AgenticRAN, Huawei’s AI-infused radio access network. Instead of relying on human operators to fine-tune network performance, AgenticRAN uses algorithms to manage resources autonomously. Spectrum allocation, energy consumption, and signal optimisation can adapt dynamically, minute by minute. This intelligent approach signals how future telecom systems may function—less manual, more predictive.

The Hardware Backbone

The hardware at the back end of the software sophistication is nothing but a revolution that is not showing off its face. With improved spectral efficiency, Huawei’s ultra-wideband AAU series has dual-band fused arrays that are capable of handling heavy data loads. Pano Radio and EasyAAU systems, on the other hand, are focused on making the hardware more user-friendly through simple deployment and constant network strength.

In the same way, the company’s hardware innovations are for rural and remote connectivity. The RuralCow and LampSite X projects aim to make the areas around the mountain tops and also coastal zones reachable with 5G-A coverage. These systems feature smart antennas coupled with intelligent power units that carry out real-time monitoring of performance. All these innovations reflect the persistence of Huawei trying to make 5G Advanced the platform for all, not just for the urban areas.

Scaling Ambition: Huawei’s Global Timeline

Huawei’s 5G-A vision is not confined to a single market. The company has already rolled out early deployments with China Mobile and China Telecom, particularly in high-density venues such as Shanghai’s sports stadiums, where smart connectivity is transforming user experience and network monetisation. According to Huawei, this marks the start of a broader expansion that could include commercial 5G-A networks in more than 50 markets by 2025.

The scale of these aspirations is huge. In Huawei’s outlook, the shipment of 400 million AI-supporting mobile phones worldwide by that year is also included. This mix of high-level connections and AI signals a clear path: networks that not only link existences but also perform calculations and interactions.

AI at the Core of Network Evolution

The presence of artificial intelligence in Huawei’s 5G-advanced framework is not on the side—it is the ground zero. The inclusion of AI allows the network to conduct real-time analysis and make decisions based on the data received dynamically. This is what Huawei calls achieving 4th Generation Autonomous Networks (AN L4), a stage where the systems can self-check, self-tune, and automatically recover. The industries that are highly reliant on uninterrupted connectivity, like logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare, will benefit from this step change in terms of reduced outages and improved performance predictability.

According to Huawei’s internal statistics, in the year 2030, the number of AI agents—independent software creatures acting for the users—might become larger than the volume of conventional mobile apps. Even though we are not sure if that timeline will be the same worldwide, the trend towards AI-enabled networks seems to be unstoppable.

A Global Outlook: Beyond Borders

A major factor behind Huawei’s 5G-Advanced leadership is China, where the government and the company were aligned, and the ecosystem was ready for the technology, thus accelerating adoption. Nevertheless, Huawei’s impact is not limited to China. The company has set up collaborations in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America—regions with a growing need for infrastructure and fewer regulatory barriers than Europe or North America.

In June 2025, during MWC Shanghai, Huawei and China Telecom revealed a 5G-A intelligent uplink pooling technology. This technology will absolutely connect the industries, and AI will have a greater role to play. These demonstrations are indeed setting the standards for the telecom carriers around the world who are looking into the same routes.

However, the battle is still on. Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, and Qualcomm are working together on 5G-Advanced standards under 3GPP Release 18, thus maintaining global interoperability. Yet, having its own vertical integration from chips to antennas, Huawei has a killer advantage that very few competitors can overtake.

Verifiable Milestones

• Huawei predicts 100 million 5G-A smartphones by the end of 2025. (TechRadar)
• Over 50 commercial 5G-A networks are expected globally within the same period. (TechRadar)
• Huawei’s AgenticRAN integrates AI into real-time network operations. (Huawei, TechRadar)
• 400 million AI-enabled smartphones are forecast for global shipment by 2025. (Huawei Newsroom)
• Demonstration of 5G-A uplink pooling with China Telecom at MWC Shanghai 2025. (RCRWireless)

The Broader Picture

Huawei’s aim for 5G-Advanced is not merely an engineering task—rather, it is a strategic interaction in a transforming global telecommunication arena. As different nations are competing to assert their dominance in digital infrastructures, the achievements of Huawei are interpreted as a sign of tech development that could be in harmony with the long-term goals of various countries and industries.

If Huawei reaches its goals, then China will likely be the first major area, among others worldwide, to have large-scale 5G-A networks operating. Such a milestone would not only confirm the technical skills of Huawei but also impact the connectivity plans of other countries.

The consequences are unambiguous worldwide. 5G-Advanced will be the deciding factor in the communication method among people, machines, and systems—enabling real-time communication, AI collaboration, and automation at an unprecedented scale. The part played by Huawei in that transition might characterise the telecommunications industry during the next period.