The World Broadband Association (WBBA), together with Huawei and industry partners, has introduced the first global Net5.5G Readiness Assessment and Certification standards, marking a significant step toward standardising AI-ready network infrastructure for telecom operators and enterprises worldwide.
The announcement was made during the Broadband Development Congress at MWC Shanghai 2026, where the organisations also outlined a framework designed to help carriers and businesses assess the maturity of their intelligent networks. Huawei simultaneously unveiled upgraded Net5.5G IP bearer network offerings aligned with the new standards, positioning them to support the growing demands of AI-driven applications and services.
At the centre of the initiative is the new IP Network Development Index, described as the industry's first unified assessment and ranking framework spanning campus networks, IP bearer networks and data centre networks. The framework aims to provide operators and enterprises with measurable benchmarks for evaluating network readiness while accelerating the commercial deployment of intelligent infrastructure.
The WBBA also highlighted the progress of its Net5.5G Pioneer Program, which now includes 32 visionary pioneers, six regional pioneers and 44 business pioneers worldwide. The programme is intended to encourage collaboration across telecom operators, technology providers and enterprises as they transition towards AI-enabled connectivity.
Huawei said its latest Net5.5G IP bearer network portfolio has been upgraded across three key areas: security resilience, multi-dimensional network awareness and network autonomy. According to the company, these capabilities are designed to help telecom operators improve service quality, strengthen network protection, automate operations and unlock new revenue opportunities as AI adoption accelerates across industries.
Steven Zhao, Vice President of Huawei's Data Communication Product Line, said the convergence of AI and advanced networking is becoming increasingly important as enterprises adopt intelligent services. He noted that Huawei's upgraded network technologies are intended to provide operators with a stronger foundation for delivering AI-powered connectivity while improving operational efficiency.
Industry participants also showcased commercial deployments demonstrating how Net5.5G technologies are being applied in real-world environments. France's Orange Group shared its efforts to develop AI-ready transport and access networks with higher bandwidth and greater reliability. CTM in Macao demonstrated how AI-powered traffic identification has helped improve application-level experience management while supporting customer retention and higher average revenue per user. Meanwhile, Istanbul Airport operator IGA highlighted the use of AI-driven network intelligence to optimise runway scheduling and baggage handling operations, contributing to improved operational efficiency.
The announcement reflects the growing industry focus on building network infrastructure capable of supporting AI workloads, autonomous operations and data-intensive enterprise applications. As organisations increasingly deploy generative AI, intelligent agents and edge computing, telecom operators are investing in higher-performance networks that can deliver lower latency, greater resilience and more automated management.
WBBA said the new certification framework is expected to provide a common global reference for intelligent network development, enabling more consistent deployment standards across markets. The association also called for deeper collaboration among industry organisations, governments and technology providers to advance network innovation, policy development and commercial adoption.
For Huawei, the announcement reinforces its continued investment in AI-centric networking technologies despite an increasingly competitive global telecom market. As operators prepare for the next phase of broadband evolution, the company expects Net5.5G to play a central role in enabling AI-powered digital transformation across industries.