In today’s digital economy, networks are the backbone of digital productivity. They are crucial in enabling the intelligent transformation of industries by facilitating high-quality digital services. These networks cover all the scenarios of enterprise services, including the access network, the transport network in the wide area, and the data center network.
Innovation and evolution have always been based on efforts by a range of vendors; but without an over-arching vision or framework, there is no unified planning for Ethernet network capability improvement. This is contrary to the generational approach to mobile and cellular networks: from 2G to 3G to 4G, and now to 5G. Such an approach helps the telco industry focus its efforts and continuously promotes the development of the wireless network industry. All the players within the industry work together to drive technological innovation and evolution.
Huawei believes that the networking industry can do better and has worked with the industry to propose a similar, generational approach to enterprise networking.
Huawei’s ethernet networking approach in the Net5.5G era is called Xinghe Intelligent Network, which was upgraded from Cloud Network it proposed around five years ago. This reflects the company’s strategic focus shifting from cloud to AI, mirroring the evolving needs of the digital landscape. Huawei’s efforts extend beyond technological innovation to include active engagement with the broader industry through initiatives like the WBBA. This collaborative effort aims to accelerate the development of the networking ecosystem. Net5.5G has also been launched commercially across the globe. Saudi Arabia will use Net5.5G to build the 10Gbps city. In China, the Shenzhen Government encourages enterprises to adopt Net5.5G to build the Speed Pioneer City in 2024.
Net5.5G aims to push improvement and innovations in the data communication network to ensure a next-generation networking solution that enables high-quality digital services. This solution is designed to support a wide array of applications, from smart manufacturing and finance to government services and entertainment, demonstrating its versatility and impact across sectors.
The core of Net5.5G architecture is characterized by high bandwidth and low latency capabilities. The approach introduces a suite of advanced technologies, including a converged transport 400Gbps Metro and Backbone network, 10Gbps campus networking, and 400Gbps datacenter networking. In addition to high performance networking, it also includes an end-to-end Digital Map, which provides user and workload visualization, as well as session playback for advanced troubleshooting. This focus on enabling and assisting the Operations and Management team of an organization is important, given the increasing complexity and lack of relevant skills in key geographies.
The innovation areas in Net5.5G should include the enterprise campus network, the wide area transport network, the data center network, as well as Cyber Security. According to the latest IDC Networking and Lifecycle Services Survey which asked over 1,200 IT leaders about their networking spending and requirements, 33% of organizations have wireless networking in the top three of their investment priorities. The most important use case for network investment in the next two years was the support of office productivity apps, including video conferencing, cited by 52% of respondents.
IDC’s European Networking and Life-Cycle Services Survey, 2023, n = 1,297
The company positions its Net5.5G Xinghe Intelligent Network as a strategic enabler of digital transformation across industries. By addressing the critical need for high-quality, resilient, and secure network infrastructure, Huawei aims to pave the way for improved digital productivity in an ever-changing global landscape. If the company succeeds in getting the wider industry ecosystem on board, it could drive faster and more structured innovation.
Chris Barnard
Vice President, Telecoms and Infrastructure (Europe)
