Huawei Bets Big on Agentic AI: A Paradigm Shift in Telecom Operations

According to Total Telecom, Huawei has positioned itself at the forefront of a telecom revolution powered by agentic AI and digital twins, promising to reshape network operations, customer relationships, and revenue models for telecom operators worldwide. At the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona, the company showcased its advanced AI-driven solutions designed to accelerate the industry’s journey toward comprehensive digital intelligence.

Huawei’s AI Strategy: Digital Twins and Agentic AI

Huawei’s approach to artificial intelligence is built on the convergence of two key technologies: digital twins and agentic AI. Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical networks, enabling risk-free experimentation and simulation of complex network scenarios. Agentic AI uses this simulation capability to predict failures, self-heal, and optimize networks autonomously. This combination creates a closed-loop system that Huawei describes as ‘perception–analysis–decision–execution.’

An essential application of this strategy resides in operations and maintenance (O&M). By employing multi-agent frameworks, AI systems can monitor network domains like transport and RAN (Radio Access Networks), detect anomalies in real-time, and resolve faults within seconds. A Huawei customer reported a 57% reduction in consumer churn after deploying these agents. The benefits extend further with applications in business operations, allowing Huawei to redefine how telecoms approach both operational efficiency and customer experience.

Market Implications: Where Telecom Meets AI

The global telecom industry is under pressure to achieve digital transformation amidst fierce competition and shrinking profit margins. Market analyst reports project that the AI in telecom market will grow from $1.2 billion in 2020 to $11.2 billion by 2030, highlighting how critical AI-powered tools are becoming.

Huawei’s advancements in agentic AI have significant implications for its competitors, including Ericsson, Nokia, and emerging cloud-native players like AWS. By integrating AI agents across operational and business support systems (OSS/BSS), Huawei aims to lower the operational costs for telcos by automating routine tasks and generating data-driven insights. Additionally, AI-powered customer relationship management (CRM) systems can create hyper-personalized marketing campaigns, improving ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) and minimizing churn.

This AI-driven strategy also strengthens Huawei’s position in emerging markets like the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, where many operators are keen to leapfrog legacy systems and adopt digital-native solutions.

Future Outlook: A Fully Intelligent Telecom Ecosystem

Looking ahead, Huawei’s AI road map envisions telecom operators transitioning to autonomous networks by 2030. With AI agents integrated into OSS/BSS systems, the next wave of innovation is expected to focus on revenue generation through intelligent billing systems, predictive CRM tools, and agent-assisted fraud detection for mobile money transactions.

Experts believe that the biggest challenge for telcos will be cultural rather than technological. Ahmed Shamsi, an independent telecom consultant, notes, “The shift to AI-native operations requires operators to overcome organizational silos, invest in staff training, and build trust in machine-driven decision-making.” Nonetheless, the ability to scale services while reducing overhead costs may force operators to embrace AI sooner rather than later.

Huawei’s success at the World Communication Awards, where it won two Silver honors for digital transformation and total experience, underscores its leadership in the telecom AI space. These accolades suggest that its strategy of blending analytics, automation, and AI-driven collaboration is not just a vision but a proven framework for results.

Conclusion: Is the Industry Ready for Agentic AI?

Huawei’s ambitious rollout of agentic AI technologies offers a template for how telecom operators can achieve operational efficiency, enhance user experience, and unlock new revenue streams. As AI continues to evolve, the industry faces one critical question: Are operators prepared to embrace the cultural and technological shifts necessary to stay competitive in the age of autonomous networks?

How do you see AI transforming the telecom industry over the next decade? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.