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Huawei is urging broadband operators to look beyond selling a connection, arguing that AI-era networks could bring revenue from coverage, speed, better in-home service and new applications. The pitch is less about a single new product than a practical question for providers: what else can the fibre network sell?

Huawei optical-access chief Feng Jingchun set out the four-part approach at the Ultra-Broadband Forum in Vienna, according to Developing Telecoms, which labels its article partner content. The proposals range from improving indoor fibre and offering faster broadband tiers to selling managed Wi-Fi and services such as home security or elderly care. Huawei says a Greek operator cut installation time from four hours to one per home, and that more than 20 operators have launched fibre-to-the-office packages for small businesses. Those are company examples, not a guarantee that every provider can reproduce the results. Still, the menu gives operators a clearer growth plan than simply hoping customers will pay more for speed.

Discuss: Should broadband operators be selling services such as home security and business networking, or should they concentrate on providing a reliable connection?

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