China Unicom will step up push to build the next-generation internet, namely intelligent computing network, so as to better drive the development of artificial intelligence, its chairman said on Friday.

Chen Zhongyue said at the company's partner conference in Shanghai that the internet has transitioned from the PC internet to the mobile internet and is now rapidly advancing toward the next-generation internet. In this new era of intelligence, the next-generation internet is envisioned as the intelligent computing network.

China Unicom is set to bolster the construction of intelligent computing infrastructure, specifically through the development of the "New Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" national backbone network. This initiative aims to enhance intelligent scheduling of computing power across the entire network, creating a high-throughput, high-performance, and highly intelligent computing network, Chen said.

The top executive emphasized the pivotal role of the network as the "artery" connecting intelligent computing power and the "neuron" for achieving widespread AI application.

Chen acknowledged that numerous technical challenges remain, necessitating joint efforts to overcome, and China Unicom plans to collaborate closely with its partners to support AI development through network advancements. This involves working with industry partners to promote the interoperability of equipment from different manufacturers. The goal is to forge a path for AI development that strengthens computing power through the network.

In parallel, China Unicom is committed to empowering network operations with AI, continuously enhancing the network's intelligence to improve efficiency and security. This dual approach aims to elevate the overall performance and capabilities of the next-generation internet, making it a cornerstone for future technological advancements, Chen added.