Huawei hosts region’s ICT experts to discuss future of IP technology

Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, hosted the first Middle East IP Gala in Dubai, during which key topics such as IP technology development, IP protocols and standards, industry cooperation, and service applications were discussed by over 150 IP experts.

Attendees included representatives from more than 20 major operators in the Middle East, as well as members of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and telecom industry analysts. 

The event saw operators from the region sharing their views on future network development trends, key requirements for IP technologies, target network architectures for 5G, and the evolution of intelligent networks. Attendees agreed that in the 5G and cloud era, IP networks will play an increasingly important role amid rapid service changes. Strengthened cooperation to jointly tackle the challenges of delivering new services was determined as a strong way forward for the sector. 

Speaking during the event, Tony Hu, President of Huawei’s Global IP Marketing and Solution Department, outlined the vision and strategy of Huawei IP, confirming that the company would continue to increase its investment in the IP industry to help operators overcome challenges in service development and network evolution.

Patrick McCarthy, Huawei's chief AI expert from NCE domain, shared the application progress of core technologies such as AI and big data in the telecom industry, and discussed how Huawei's innovative Network Cloud Engine (NCE) solution will help operators move IP networks towards automation and intelligence.

An Jian, President of Huawei's Middle East Carrier Network Business Group, said that 2019 would be the first year of large-scale 5G commercialization in the Middle East. “Huawei is ready to increase cooperation with operators in the IP field, a strategic field vital to service and network transformation,” he said. “Listening to customer requirements for IP networks and technologies, Huawei aims to build intelligent IP networks and create win-win situations in the 5G and cloud era through discussions on IP network architectures and roadmaps, joint innovation, and IP talent training with operators in the Middle East.”

Caroline Gabriel, principal analyst of Analysys Mason, discussed operators' IP networks in the 5G and cloud era, development trends and insights. She pointed out that IP networks would move towards automation and intelligence in the future.

James N Guichard, chair of the IETF Service Function Chaining (SFC) Working Group, and Robin Li, Huawei's chief standards expert, spoke about new services bringing challenges to IP MPLS technology, which has been in development for more than a decade. They said SRv6 would become the next-generation protocol for simplified transport, noting its increasing maturity, successful tests, and commercial deployments among multiple operators in the industry.