From October 15th to 17th, 2026, the 10th Future Network Development Conference took place in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. During the conference, Wang Xiyu, the CTO of ZTE, delivered an insightful speech. He highlighted that with the evolution of AI large-scale models and computing clusters, optical interconnection is rapidly expanding its reach to both ultra-short and ultra-long distances. This expansion effectively bridges three key scenarios: data centers, wide-area networks, and the space-air realm.

In the context of data centers, the NPO (Network Processor Optical) solution strikes a perfect balance between openness, cost-efficiency, and maintainability, thus emerging as the preferred choice for intra-node interconnection. ZTE's cutting-edge NPO solution offers robust high-density bandwidth support for AI Fabric, facilitating seamless data flow.

When it comes to wide-area scenarios, ZTE has successfully completed 1.6Tbps OTN (Optical Transport Network) field network testing. In collaboration with operators, it has set a new benchmark by achieving a record-breaking single-fiber unidirectional transmission rate of 120Tbit/s. This milestone underscores ZTE's technological prowess in long-distance data transmission.

In the space-air domain, ZTE is actively pushing forward the commercial verification of 100G/200G satellite-borne products. Simultaneously, it is conducting synchronous verification of 400G/800G core chips and optical devices. These efforts are geared towards supporting the deployment of integrated space-terrestrial networks, thereby paving the way for a more connected and intelligent future.