ZTE Global Summit 2026: From Connectivity to AI and Digital Value

ZTE Corporation has officially opened the 15th ZTE Global Summit & User Congress 2026, bringing together more than 500 government officials, ICT industry leaders, operator executives, innovative enterprises, and ecosystem partners in Kuala Lumpur.

Held under the theme “Architecting Infinity: From Connectivity to Digital Value,” the summit is being co-located for the first time with GSMA M360 ASEAN, making it ZTE’s largest annual overseas self-hosted forum.

But this year’s event is looking beyond the usual conversation around faster networks. ZTE is putting the spotlight on how connectivity, computing, artificial intelligence, and devices can work together to create new digital value across industries and everyday life.

The discussions at the summit center on future network evolution, AI-driven innovation, digital infrastructure, and the continued growth of the regional digital economy.

Malaysia Pushes for Digital Value, Not Just Connectivity

The shift from connectivity to digital value was also reflected in the opening remarks from Malaysian government leaders.

YB Dato' Seri Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications, Malaysia, said the country's next digital phase must move beyond simply deploying connectivity.

He emphasized the need to turn digital infrastructure into tangible benefits through better public services, stronger businesses, and greater opportunities for Malaysians.

Calling on global technology companies to “not only sell into Malaysia, but build with Malaysia,” he highlighted the importance of developing local talent, strengthening national capabilities, and fostering innovation that can serve the wider ASEAN market.

Meanwhile, YB Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital, Malaysia, highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in the country's next phase of digital competitiveness.

“Malaysia's next phase of digital competitiveness hinges on translating artificial intelligence into tangible economic and societal value, boosting productivity, improving public services and opening higher-value opportunities for our people. To become an AI Nation by 2030, we must look beyond infrastructure to cultivate local talent, foster trusted governance and empower homegrown innovators to scale global solutions.”

For Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region, the discussion is increasingly shifting from simply building digital infrastructure to making that infrastructure deliver tangible value.

ZTE's “Connectivity plus Computing” Strategy

For ZTE, the next stage of that journey involves bringing connectivity and computing closer together.

Xie Junshi, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ZTE, explained that the technology industry is entering a period where networks and computing increasingly need to work as one.

“Across the globe, connectivity and computing are coming together. This is a major industry trend. Global 5G keeps expanding with steady growth. At the same time, AI has become a key growth driver for the industry. Different markets move at different paces, yet we all share one clear direction: from building computing power, to making good use of computing power.”

Against this backdrop, ZTE has upgraded its strategy to “Connectivity plus Computing.”

The company sees AI as the brain, communication infrastructure as the nervous system, and terminals as the carrier.

“When these three elements come together, they will reshape our society and daily life. Solid underlying technologies are our foundation. This defines where we are heading.”

Xie summed up ZTE's direction with a line that also captures the theme of the summit:

“Connectivity built our foundation. Intelligence is our momentum. Infinity is our horizon — and together, we will Architect it.”

Four Steps Toward a New Digital Infrastructure

ZTE Senior Vice President Zhang Wanchun also outlined what he described as a four-fold journey in building the next phase of digital infrastructure.

“Our quest is a four-fold journey: vision means finding our long-term direction, volume means deploying innovations with scale and quality, value means turning the infrastructure into value-creation systems, and venture means pushing boundaries even further.”

These four ideas, VISION, VOLUME, VALUE, and VENTURE, form part of ZTE's broader approach to moving from infrastructure development toward measurable value and new opportunities.

At the summit, the company demonstrated technologies covering AI-powered connectivity, computing efficiency, token production, and value realization, creating what it described as an end-to-end commercial roadmap that moves from connectivity and computing infrastructure toward scenario-based terminals.

Building Networks Designed for the AI Era

One of the major technology showcases at the summit is ZTE AIR MAX, a three-layer architecture designed for mobile networks in the 6G and AI era.

The solution brings together AIR RAN, AIR Net, and AIR Core, with each layer addressing a different part of the network's evolution toward AI-native operations.

AIR RAN focuses on site and network intelligence, using four areas of optimization: Experience, Spectrum, Energy, and O&M.

The goal is to improve network experience and efficiency while helping operators increase revenue and reduce operating expenses.

AIR Net takes the AI approach further with a full-stack AI architecture and a “1+N” model matrix, using large language models and intelligent agent technologies to help operators move toward higher levels of autonomous network operation.

AIR Core, meanwhile, is designed to move networks beyond the traditional idea of connectivity pipes.

It integrates AI, computing, data, and security to create an Agent Service Network (ASN) capable of supporting individuals, smart homes, connected vehicles, and emerging AI agents.

ZTE also highlighted how NWDAF and AI-UPF can work together to identify services, assess network experience in real time, and dynamically adjust network policies. The company says the technology can deliver service identification accuracy of more than 98%.

The network architecture also incorporates non-terrestrial network (NTN) integration, extending connectivity toward remote, maritime, aviation, and emergency scenarios.

AI Meets Optical Networking

As AI workloads grow, the infrastructure connecting computing resources also becomes increasingly important.

ZTE showcased its HI-NET and AI All-Optical Network solutions as part of this effort.

HI-NET uses AI-powered optical transport technology to support zero-packet-loss transmission of AI training and inference data across thousands of kilometers between AI data centers.

The solution combines high-capacity networking equipment with AI-driven traffic optimization, security protection, and dynamic energy-efficiency optimization.

ZTE also presented its AI All-Optical Network, which features 16-port Any PON 2.0 and supports a smooth evolution toward 50G-PON.

Another highlighted technology is ZTE's AI Radio solution, designed to simplify campus network deployment through seamless roaming.

The company also showcased an OLT integrated with a 100T computing card, allowing edge AI computing and real-time network quality analysis.

Together, these technologies reflect ZTE's effort to make networks more intelligent while improving the efficiency of the computing infrastructure that supports AI.

Making AI Computing More Efficient

ZTE's vision also extends into what it calls the Token Economy.

At the summit, the company introduced its TCO-Optimal AI Factory, an intelligent computing solution built around AI Compute, AI Storage, and AI Network.

Instead of simply adding more computing capacity, the approach focuses on system-level efficiency.

By combining architectural innovation with coordination across the infrastructure stack, ZTE aims to reduce cost per token, helping customers build AI factories with optimized total cost of ownership.

The company also outlined a broader Token Economy strategy covering the production, delivery, routing, governance, and application of tokens.

ZTE says it is working with global operators, industry partners, and developers to build an open Token ecosystem, including cross-domain interconnection standards and API capability interfaces.

The goal is to accelerate the development and commercialization of Token-based applications while allowing ecosystem participants to take part in the emerging intelligent value network.

AI Comes Home

The summit is not focused entirely on telecom infrastructure and data centers. ZTE is also bringing its AI strategy into the home.

Under its AI Home concept, the company is building an all-optical whole-home deterministic network around three pillars: connectivity as the foundation, AI as the core, and screens as the medium.

Its portfolio includes AI smart displays, AI-powered STBs, and IPC cameras, covering scenarios such as entertainment, wellness, and home care.

ZTE also sees these technologies as opportunities for operators to develop different commercial models, including subscription and retail offerings.

The larger goal is to make advanced technology more visible, tangible, and useful in everyday environments.

Gaming Phones and New AI Devices Join the Lineup

For consumers, one of the more familiar parts of ZTE's showcase comes through its device portfolio.

The company is continuing its “AI + gaming” strategy with two gaming smartphones introduced at the congress.

The nubia Neo 5 GT features an active fan-cooling system, while the nubia Neo 5 Max introduces a 7.5-inch display as part of what ZTE describes as the PadPhone category.

The lineup also includes the ZTE G6 Ultra, which ZTE describes as the world's first 5G-A Wi-Fi 8 CPE, aimed at next-generation connectivity.

Beyond smartphones and connectivity equipment, ZTE showcased several other AI-enabled devices.

These include iMoochi, a lifelike AI pet designed to create a more engaging experience; ZTE TOPFLOW, a live-streaming hub for outdoor streaming and mobile productivity; and ZTE U15S Global, a pocket Wi-Fi device designed for connectivity worldwide.

Together, the devices show how ZTE's Connectivity plus Computing strategy extends beyond network infrastructure and into the products people can interact with directly.

From Building Networks to Creating Value

The 2026 ZTE Global Summit & User Congress ultimately presents a broader view of where the technology industry is heading.

Connectivity remains the foundation, but ZTE's strategy places greater emphasis on what happens when networks are combined with computing, AI, data, and intelligent terminals.

That shift is reflected in the company's four-part framework of VISION, VOLUME, VALUE, and VENTURE.

The focus starts with defining where digital infrastructure is heading, continues with deploying technology at scale and quality, and moves toward turning that infrastructure into value-creation systems and new opportunities.

As ZTE puts it, the goal is to bring together technology, markets, and the wider industrial ecosystem while exploring how digital infrastructure can create value beyond simply connecting people and devices.

And that is ultimately what “Architecting Infinity: From Connectivity to Digital Value” is about: moving from a world where connectivity enables digital experiences to one where intelligent infrastructure actively helps create them.