The best of MWC Shanghai so far

At MWC24 Shanghai, mobile operators in China took the lead by launching the first commercial API under GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative. This milestone accelerated the delivery of innovative digital services to customers and global markets, enabling sectors and communities to realise the full potential of open APIs. The keynote demonstrated how Open Gateway has tackled fraud, improved device location accuracy and delivered on-demand quality services, paving the way for seamless integration and new revenue streams. 

Key outcomes 

This keynote session mobilised operators, vendors and sectors into building a programmable, collaborative ecosystem using Open Gateway standards, particularly around 5G-A, API monetisation and vertical-specific use cases. 

• Within a year, 47 new operators joined Open Gateway, and countries including Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, South Africa, Spain and Sri Lanka deployed live network APIs, illustrating rapid industry-wide adoption.
• Partnerships between operators (for example, Deutsche Telekom, AT&T and Verizon) and vendors (like Ericsson and Huawei) were formalised after the keynote, aligning with the GSMA’s Open Gateway roadmap.
• Insurance claim APIs and live-streaming APIs showcased during the keynote were later rolled out commercially by operators and partners, reducing claim processing times and improving streaming quality. 

Industry leaders highlighted how the AI boom has reshaped Asia Pacific’s digital economy, with generative AI projected to deliver £2 trillion in annual economic benefits to China alone. The keynote moved beyond early hype, showcasing how AI had created value at scale, driven innovation and established a robust AI economy across the region.

Key outcomes: 

Clear, real-world outcomes tied directly to this keynote include: 

• Over 30 operators launched AIenabled networks and committed to 5G-A deployments.
• Huawei implemented RAN Intelligent Agents, drastically improving efficiency and autonomy.
• ZTE formalised collaboration frameworks for AI-enhanced telecommunications with operators. 

A celebration of Asia’s emergence as a hub for technological breakthroughs, driven by rapid deployment of 5G, advanced AI, IoT and blockchain technologies. Speakers illustrated how China’s dynamic market, with over 900 million internet users, has accelerated innovation and transformed consumer experiences.

Key outcomes: 

This keynote acted as a strategic trigger, leading to 5G-A commercialisation, AI-native network deployments and cross-industry innovation projects in the months following the event. 

• The GSMA reported that by late 2024, 30+ operators completed 5G-A verification, and 10 announced commercial deployments, including China Mobile’s plan for 300 5G-A city networks by year-end. These announcements were tied to the keynote’s call for innovation-first strategies.
• Vendors like Huawei and ZTE introduced AI-native RAN solutions, energy optimisation platforms and autonomous Operations and Maintenance (O&M) systems, which were later deployed in cities like Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Bangkok.
• Formal agreements were signed between operators and tech vendors for AI-driven smart city projects, industrial automation and cloud-edge integration, reflecting the keynote’s emphasis on ecosystem collaboration. 

Global leaders from China Mobile, Singtel, China Tower and the GSMA demonstrated how the convergence of AI and connectivity is redefining digital ecosystems. Including showcasing how GSMA Open Gateway and next-generation networks are enabling smarter cities, automated industries and seamless global collaboration.

Key outcomes 

The keynote had a significant ripple effect across the telecom and technology sectors, shaping both strategic priorities and operational models. 

• It helped accelerate open API adoption, creating a surge in API commercialisation – enabling operators to monetise network capabilities and offer new services.
• The advocacy for open ecosystems translated into concrete commitments for standardised API frameworks, as global operators and channel partners signed MoUs covering over 78% of global mobile connections.
• Analysts project the network API market to generate $300 billion in connectivity and edge computing revenue within 5–7 years, with China alone expected to grow API spend from $514M in 2024 to $2.8B by 2030.
• Industry forums following the keynote emphasised that programmable networks and AI orchestration will be essential for next-gen services, creating new monetisation models and operational efficiencies. 

Chinese telecom operators showed how they are transforming into technology companies. Industry leaders from ZTE, Huawei and Lenovo shared real-world examples of 5G Standalone integrated with AI and how its revolutionising sectors such as healthcare, autonomous driving and manufacturing.

Key outcomes: 

This keynote triggered formal strategies, pilot deployments and cross-sector partnerships, proving its direct impact on the industry and its verticals. 

• Released immediately after the keynote, the Carrier Techco Transformation White Paper outlined a “triple transition” (AI factories, GPU-as-a-Service and platform ecosystems). This document became a reference for operators globally, driving formalised strategies.
• Multiple operators announced plans to implement AI-powered Operations and Maintenance centres and Graphics Processing Unit resource scheduling for financial services, reducing transaction latency to milliseconds.
• Chinese operators positioned themselves as leaders in AI-native networks and 5G-A, influencing global strategies for Techco transformation.
• Broader research* confirms that smart manufacturing technologies (digital twins + edge AI) consistently yield 10–20% output increases and up to 35% cost reductions, validating the keynote’s emphasis on these solutions. 

* roboticsandautomationnews.com 

Thought leaders from YOFC, HONOR and Alibaba explored the evolution of AI technologies, focusing on generative and agentic AI and their role in mobile and network innovation. Discussions addressed the balance between on-device and cloud-based AI, and the implications of open versus closed ecosystems.  

Key outcomes 

This session drove measurable outcomes in AI investments, industry recognition and cross-sector collaboration across Asia’s mobile ecosystem. 

• It cemented China’s position as a leader in AI development and set new global benchmarks for agentic AI adoption.
• This and related summit sessions (including the Agentic AI Summit) at the event prompted operators and vendors to accelerate investments in AI-optimised hardware, edge computing and agentic AI platform strategies.
• Press and analyst coverage (such as Telecom Review Asia) confirmed that AI and 5G advancements showcased in this keynote have driven real investments in AI-first infrastructure, private AI networks and mobile AI foundations.
• Following the keynote, GSMA expanded its AI Ethics and Governance Working Group, inviting operators, vendors and academic institutions to co-develop AI governance frameworks.