ZTE unveils AIR DNA initiative to rebuild networks around AI at MWC Barcelona

ZTE’s AIR DNA initiative represents a significant advancement in AI-driven telecommunications infrastructure, potentially transforming how mobile networks operate and deliver services. Unveiled at Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2025, this comprehensive architecture reimagines network foundations with artificial intelligence as the central component, positioning the technology not merely as an add-on but as the genetic building block of future communications systems.

The big picture: ZTE has launched AIR DNA, an end-to-end network solution that fundamentally restructures mobile networks around artificial intelligence as their core engine.

• The solution aims to reconstruct the architectural foundations of telecommunications infrastructure while redefining how intelligent networks will function in the future.
• According to ZTE, this marks the beginning of a new era in intelligently connecting devices and services across global networks.

Key components: ZTE Senior Vice President Zhang Wanchun outlined three pillars of the AIR Solution: a full-stack AI foundation, end-to-end intelligent network reconstruction, and value redefinition driven by the new network architecture.

• The AI foundation includes open infrastructure, a comprehensive lifecycle training and inference platform, and purpose-built Nebula large models for various scenarios.
• The intelligent network transformation transitions from dedicated to heterogeneous AIR RAN, cloud-native to AI-native AIR Core, and assisted to autonomous intelligence in AIR Net.

AIR RAN innovations: The AI for RAN component reshapes both wireless sites and network operation and maintenance systems through increased integration of capabilities.

• Wireless sites now feature “All-in-one Radio” technology that integrates communication, computing, and intelligence functions in unified hardware.
• Network operations benefit from digital twin technology and large language models that enhance monitoring and management capabilities.

Computing architecture: The RAN for AI component delivers on-demand computing power throughout the network while providing comprehensive data access for AI applications.

• This approach aims to facilitate widespread AI availability across the telecommunications infrastructure.
• The system enables computing resources to be deployed where needed rather than centralized in traditional data centers.

Core network evolution: The AIR Core solution transitions networks from being merely cloud-native to becoming AI-native, enabling more autonomous operations.

• This transformation drives intent-driven, agentic network capabilities that can operate with minimal human intervention.
• The integration merges traditional core network functions with advanced AI capabilities for enhanced performance.

Implementation framework: The AIR Net Solution leverages a self-developed intelligence technology platform built on three key engines: data, large model, and digital twin technologies.

• This comprehensive approach enhances both infrastructure capabilities and network operations.
• The system is designed to facilitate a smoother path to intelligent transformation for telecommunications providers.

Why this matters: ZTE positions the AIR Solution as a catalyst for global intelligent transformation, potentially accelerating the development of human-machine symbiotic relationships in telecommunications.

• The initiative represents one of the most comprehensive attempts to rebuild network architecture around AI as the fundamental building block rather than as a supplementary technology.
• If successful, these developments could significantly influence how future networks are designed, deployed, and operated worldwide.