Huawei Sees Middle East as Key Region in AI Token Economy Shift
Huawei has outlined a new framework for token monetisation in mobile networks, positioning the Middle East as a strategic market for the next phase of artificial intelligence-driven connectivity. The company presented the concept at Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2026, where it urged telecom operators to rethink traditional billing models and move from charging for data consumption to capturing value from AI token production and transmission.
According to Huawei, the growing scale of AI agents across industries is creating demand for networks that can support both token generation and token consumption. The company said this evolution could become an important differentiator for carriers seeking to monetise the computing output delivered through their infrastructure.
“With each generation, we have pushed the limits of spectral efficiency and performance,” said David Wang, Deputy Chairman of the Board and Rotating Chairman at Huawei. “This has consistently expanded the boundaries of communications, helping carriers translate network capabilities into commercial value.”
Huawei said the number of active artificial intelligence agents worldwide is expected to exceed 100 billion by 2030. In response, the company and three major Chinese carriers introduced an AI-focused network architecture designed to integrate communications networks with computing infrastructure. The goal is to reduce the cost per token while improving overall network efficiency.
Middle East Carriers Seen as Early Adopters
The technology company identified the Middle East as a key region for deploying commercial networks capable of supporting this token economy. In particular, Huawei pointed to carriers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia as being well placed to adopt advanced 5G infrastructure that can provide the bandwidth needed for real-time AI applications and token-based billing systems.
The shift toward AI-enabled telecom operations is already visible in customer service and network usage patterns. Huawei cited Singaporean telecom operator Singtel as an example, noting that it deployed agentic AI to manage 70,000 customer interactions over six weeks. The system resolved 70% of routine queries without human intervention, highlighting the growing volume of AI interactions that next-generation networks may need to handle.
“Intelligent connectivity can break new boundaries,” said Li Peng, Director of the Board and President of ICT Sales and Service at Huawei. “The intelligent economy can unlock new value in connectivity.”
Huawei said it is currently working with global carriers to help shape the standards framework for mobile communications and token monetisation from 2030 to 2040. The company’s position reflects a broader effort to align telecom infrastructure with the commercial demands of AI at scale.
Industry Analysis
Huawei’s token economy proposal signals a potential shift in how telecom operators may think about revenue generation in the AI era. If networks become more directly tied to token production and transmission, carriers could move beyond traditional data pricing and develop new monetisation models linked to AI workloads and usage patterns.
For the Middle East, the message is particularly relevant as operators in the UAE and Saudi Arabia continue investing in 5G and digital infrastructure. These markets may be among the first to test whether telecom networks can evolve into commercial platforms for AI services, rather than serving only as connectivity providers.
