i卡會員

Issues such as aging populations, declining birth rates, and labor shortages have continued to draw global attention during recent years. As artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and autonomous technologies gradually enter the commercial stage, these innovations are rapidly being integrated into various aspects of daily life. At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) this year, telecom operators focused on the enhancement of consumer experiences through the combination of 5G high-speed networks, smart devices, robots, and unmanned vehicles to propose solutions to labor shortages and explore emerging business opportunities. 

In response to the high demand from consumers for immersive and live experiences, telecom companies are accelerating their presence in areas such as video entertainment, esports, and home fitness, with an emphasis on AI-driven value-added services. During concerts and sporting events, providers not only offer high-definition live streaming, but also apply AI for real-time multilingual translation, virtual players and cheerleaders, and personalized interactive experiences to boost audience engagement. Moreover, AI-driven interactive imaging technologies allow users to create "photos" or dance videos with their idols, opening the door to brand-new entertainment experiences with strong commercial potential.

In terms of venue operations and management, AI also plays a critical role. AI scoreboards and real-time information systems enhance the live audience experience. AI also optimizes seating arrangements and, by leveraging big data on weather, recommends the best viewing angles, helping venue managers optimize indoor environmental conditions for comfort and to maintain safety. Furthermore, AI-supported surveillance cameras enable crowd density analysis, strengthening entry and exit management and overall public safety.

Meanwhile, robots and unmanned vehicles were also under the spotlight at the exhibition. Several telecom companies showcased humanoid robots and virtual characters capable of simple conversations and item delivery through face-to-face interactions. As technology advances, these robots will offer more fluent generative AI-based voice interactions, such as greeting customers at stores or in shopping malls or assisting with purchase decisions. The retail sector is also rapidly adopting automation equipment, including robotic arms for restocking shelves, AI vision to detect the consumer’s interest and purchasing behavior, and to personalize recommendations and promotional information in conjunction with digital signage. Going further, digital solutions that integrate autonomous vehicles with digitalized cabin spaces could realize the concept of mobile unmanned stores. These vehicles can drive to specific locations to sell or display products and provide interactive services through AI virtual shop assistants — ushering in an entirely new business model. 

In anticipation of an aging society, telecom companies are also actively developing smart home solutions. The combination of communication and sensing technologies, wearable devices, and image recognition can be utilized to support the elderly for safer and easier living. From robotic pets to humanoid companion robots to AI housekeepers with real-time interaction capabilities, these technologies can provide reminders for medication, monitor vital signs, assist with mobility, issue emergency alerts in the event of accidents or falls, and even provide clothing advice based on outdoor weather conditions. AI will be ubiquitous. 

As the world expects to enter the 6G era by 2030, leading industry players attending MWC presented their visions of future communication technologies and use cases. In light of the severe infrastructure damage inflicted by frequent natural disasters during recent years, disaster communications and emergency response capabilities have become top priorities for governments and telecom operators in many countries. 

Companies are also actively deploying various non-terrestrial network technologies, including multi-orbit satellite communications, high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) such as fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), balloons, airships, and low-altitude multirotor drones equipped with communication devices to provide emergency connectivity in disaster-affected areas. 

Given the trend toward three-dimensional communication, the three major telecom operators in China are responding to the government's ‘low-altitude economy’ initiative by proposing the construction of aerial traffic and logistics networks composed of multirotor drones, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), and civil aircraft. This will greatly boost the demand for aerial communications, creating new market opportunities and driving a wave of innovation for base station deployment models and equipment technologies. It indicates that communication services will extend from the ground to encompass even greater volumes of airspace.

In terms of satellite communications, the commercialization of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites remains the industry focus. More than 20 companies, including new players e.g., Starlink, OneWeb, and the soon-to-launch Amazon Kuiper, as well as established names such as SES, Intelsat, and Globalstar, demonstrated their technical capabilities at MWC. This highlights the importance of satellite communications as a strategic stronghold in the 6G era, leading many countries to step up their investment in space technology. 

Going even further ahead, the concept of interplanetary communications is beginning to take shape. At the MWC, Nokia presented an animated vision and forward-looking strategy for lunar communications, free-space optical communications, and quantum communications. Meanwhile, the founder of NVIDIA, Jensen Huang, said at the Quantum Day session of the GTC that quantum computing promises tremendous potential. Bill Gates and Google have also predicted that practical quantum computing could arrive within the next five years. 

In light of this, the industry is beginning to focus on quantum encryption, quantum communications, and the potential transformation of the telecommunications industry. At the MWC this year, four telecom operators showcased use cases of quantum encryption and predicted that quantum communication networks could gradually become a reality beyond 2030.