2019 Annual Report (^15)
Industry Trends
The Intelligent Decade Ahead
The first two decades of the 21st century saw the Internet, particularly the mobile Internet, progress by leaps and
bounds. The next decade is when evolving networks and breakthroughs in computing power will drive wide-scale
adoption of cloud computing, commercial 5G networks, and pervasive AI services.
These trends are ushering us into a fully connected, intelligent world: a world of massive connectivity, real-time
and always-on networks, and an explosion of new smart devices and equipment. This is also the decade of
Globalization 4.0 as the goods and services of the digital world merge with those of the physical world. Enormous
changes are sure to follow, in the way we live and work, our business models, industry ecosystems, and the way
technology evolves.
An Intelligent World for an Intelligent Life
Digital technology is remaking the world. It is setting the stage for an intelligent world where all things can sense,
all things are connected, and all things are intelligent. The Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) reports
that, as of the end of 2019, more than 60 carriers have rolled out 5G networks, more than 50 have launched
commercial 5G services, and over 180 5G devices are now available. Huawei predicts that, by 2025, 5G will serve
58% of the global population and that China will be the largest 5G market in the world.
5G can be combined with technologies like 4K/8K video, VR/AR, AI, and cloud to deliver a truly immersive experience
everywhere, at any time. We will find it in things like high-definition live broadcasts, smart classrooms, remote
education, virtual museums, and smart tourism. The way we work will also be transformed when 5G combines with
cutting-edge technologies in telecommuting, online medical consultation, and robotic patrolling. These technologies
will have a much broader spillover effect because ICT has become a new economic force and is sparking a new
wave of global economic growth.
The Zero-Search Experience: Seamless Response to User Needs
There are more than four billion Internet users in
the world today, and that number could rise to six
billion within the next five years. This vast user base
will generate massive amounts of data – data that
businesses can use to deliver products and services
tailored to the interests, preferences, and personalities
of their customers.
AI functions – trained on vast amounts of data –
are quickly embedding themselves into every aspect
of how we live and work. AI is making a particular
difference in human-machine interaction, as using
voice and gestures to engage with machines has made
this interaction more natural than ever before. We
will also enjoy new levels of convenience with smart
assistants, smart home appliances, and autonomous
vehicles. These technologies will provide us with
the assistance we need, when and where we need
it, without having to give explicit commands. New
collections of smart devices, along with more effortless
communications between people and machines, will
deliver a zero-search experience where what we need
simply comes to us.Huawei’s Global Industry Vision (GIV) report predicts
that, by 2025, smart personal assistants will be
available to 90% of people, and there will be 6.
billion smartphones and 470 million smart speakers
worldwide.