China's telecom giants push 'air-space-ground-sea' networks for AI

At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai on Wednesday, executives from China's major telecom companies advocated for expanding network infrastructure beyond terrestrial boundaries to meet soaring AI computing demands. Huawei rotating chairman Wang Tao stated that AI's growing agentic capabilities require internet coverage to extend from the current 20% on the ground to 100% across high altitudes, oceans, and deserts. He predicted the number of AI agents could reach 1 trillion globally by 2030, urging operators to move beyond urban areas. Wang, who became rotating chairman in April, identified 2026 as a crucial inflection point for mobile communication, noting that China already has over 1.1 billion 5G users. Zhang Zhiyong, chairman of state-owned China Tower, announced that his company is leveraging its 6.2 million base stations (including 3.28 million for 5G) to build a network covering air, space, ground, and sea. This push aligns with Beijing's AI infrastructure expansion and follows SpaceX's market debut, which has intensified industry focus beyond Earth.