Huawei makes the case for AI-ready optical networks at OptiX Club 2026

In an era defined by the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence, the underlying network infrastructure is emerging as a critical bottleneck. Huawei's OptiX Club 2026, held in Johannesburg, brought together over 120 industry stakeholders to address this challenge, emphasizing the indispensable role of optical networks in building the faster, smarter digital environments required for AI.

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Frankly speaking, in the AI era, networks are the foundation. Networks must be fast and reliable, and optical communication is the key. Without a high-quality optical network, even the most powerful AI cannot perform effectively.

York Ning, Director of Huawei South Africa's ICT Marketing & Solution Sales Department, underscored the fundamental truth: "In the AI era, networks are the foundation. Networks must be fast and reliable, and optical communication is the key." This statement resonates deeply within South Africa, where digital transformation initiatives are gaining momentum. Without a robust optical network, even the most sophisticated AI applications risk underperformance, highlighting the urgency of upgrading network capabilities.

Huawei outlined a strategic approach for South Africa, prioritizing four key areas: enhancing backbone network speeds, ensuring the stability of industry networks, improving campus connectivity, and advancing the security of optical technologies. These priorities are not abstract concepts; they are being translated into tangible local deployments. Notable examples include South Africa's first 800G backbone network, established in partnership with Broadband Infraco (BBI), and the first 100G private power network developed with Eskom.

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As AI and enterprise digitisation, and immersive applications continue to expand, fibre is becoming a core layer of digital infrastructure across homes, campuses, industries and critical services.

Dr. Bello Moussa, CTO of Huawei Southern Africa's Enterprise Government & Public Utility Account Department, further elaborated on the technological evolution, describing F5G Advanced as the next frontier in fixed-network development. As AI, enterprise digitization, and immersive applications continue to expand, fiber optics are solidifying their position as a core component of digital infrastructure across homes, campuses, industries, and essential services. Fiber is transitioning from a mere connectivity pipe to a sophisticated platform enabling lower latency, enhanced reliability, and broader application possibilities.

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The future of AI will be in the combination of different servers. The more you can combine, the more powerful you will be.

Skyler Wang, a Solution Architect at Huawei South Africa, added a crucial business perspective, noting that AI is not only reshaping network capabilities but also how networks are built and monetized. The next wave of growth for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will hinge on delivering intelligent and consistent user experiences, driven by AI. This signifies a fundamental business transformation, where AI redefines not just services but the very architecture and strategy of network development. Huawei's commitment to collaborating with local partners aims to unlock new opportunities and achieve breakthroughs in this transformative AI era.

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AI is not just changing the services, it’s redefining our network and redefining how we should build our network. AI is a business transformation.