The ZTE corporation has long been a global pioneer in the telecommunications and information technology industries, so much so it is without question that it would play a pivotal role in the growth and development of fixed network capabilities and solutions. The success of ZTE’s fixed network and multimedia products, which include CPE, OAN, MSAN, IPTV, OTT and integrated CDN/cache, is wholly attributed to its Vice President and General Manager of Fixed Network and Multimedia Products, Mr Fang Hui.
Telecom Review Asia Pacific secured an exclusive interview with Mr Fang Hui to explore the company’s efforts in bolstering its fixed network and multimedia products field, specifically CPE, and its mission to reinforce collaboration and cooperation amongst its customers and key industry players.
With over 20 years of knowledge and experience in the fields of R&D, marketing, and product operation & management areas at ZTE, Mr Fang Hui has managed to exemplify the age-old adage of “leadership is action, not position.” Under his directorship, ZTE was ranked first in the CPE industry in 2019Q3, according to a report released by research firm Omdia (formerly IHS Markit). This accomplishment does not go unnoticed by Mr Fang Hui who believes that the company’s persistent efforts have been the main catalyst to its global market recognition.
“ZTE has been dedicated to the CPE field for 20 years. It constantly bolsters fundamental capabilities and strengthens technological innovation to maintain industry leadership and offer global operators unrivalled products and service. This achievement gives our employees enormous encouragement and our customers’ great pride in choosing ZTE as a partner,” he said of the achievement.
He also credits this success to six key capabilities driving the success of ZTE's CPE products: software platformstandards and patents, customization service, quality control, product security and smart manufacturing. “With the advent of the 5G era, fixed broadband has entered the gigabit deployment stage, and the industry chain for gigabit applications, including 8K and VR, is maturing. ZTE will focus on developing CPE products that incorporate new gigabit access technologies such as Wi-Fi 6, mesh Wi-Fi, 10G PON and 5G FWA.”
Speaking about the vision behind Big Video analysis, ZTE’s own revolutionary video service catered towards operators, Mr Fang Hui explains, “Big Video, as a service that can perfectly integrate the two technologies of 5G and AI in the future, fully meets the precise requirements of various customers. By utilizing service-related data and AI algorithms to build profile models of users and services, the smart profile created will “achieve the smart scheduling of capabilities in response to user and service needs.”
In addition to Big Video, ZTE has also launched an intelligent platform known as “eData” that is compatible with various acquisition and storage computing systems. Through this, an AI-based smart profile model was created.
“The model aims at user needs and service income and guarantees the utilization of capabilities for services through operational decisions and guarantees the satisfaction of services for capabilities through maintenance decisions. The "eData" platform can ultimately provide tailor-made services for end users, as well as increase operator's revenue and profits, thereby promote the healthy development of the 5G-based big video ecosystem,” he said.
When discussing recent challenges pertaining to product innovation and service enhancement, Mr Fang Hui describes certain aspects of FBB that are concerning, but all of which can be rectified through proper collaboration with customers and industry peers. “Based on its deep insight in the FBB field, ZTE has made some innovations to meet the challenges. For example, the Combo PON solution provides a cost-effective way to upgrade from GPON to 10G PON; 5G and FTTH share resources can improve the efficiency of the fixed network and accelerate 5G deployment; the light cloud solution meets the deployment of experience-sensitive services. ZTE also has launched series of products to meet more scenarios coverage in the past year.”
In terms of future partnerships for the new decade, Mr Fang Hui highlights that in depth cooperation with its customers in fields like 8K/VR ultra-HD video service, smart home application and enterprise park development will “help the operators achieve network empowerment, experience upgrade, business expansion and value-added operation” for the year 2020.
He added, “At the industrial chain level, ZTE and its partners accelerate the commercialization process of new technologies. Together with chip manufacturers and optical modules manufacturers, ZTE verifies the key technical indicators to ensure the economic feasibility of the technical solution, thus forming a joint effort in the industry and promoting the commercial process and industrial capability improvement of 50G PON and next-generation Wi-Fi.”
Despite the relative uncertainty of the future, Mr Fang Hui is positive that ZTE will continue to work closely with standards and industry chains to catapult the industry to greater heights. “We will increase cooperation among operators, content providers, and users, and work together to meet challenges and seize opportunities to achieve commercial success.”
