The World Internet Conference (WIC) on Tuesday held a forum on the theme of “Computing Power Network: Smarter Network for a Smarter World” during the Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
The forum serves as a platform to bring together industry experts, officials, businessmen and other shareholders from around the world. Nearly 200 guests participated in the forum and discussed the opportunities provided by computing power and networks which are evolving toward greater integration and convergence.
The advancements in digitization, networking, and intelligence are accelerating at a rapid pace, leading to a growing demand for novel computing capabilities tailored for ubiquitous intelligence.
“The global economic and social digital transformation is accelerating, with increasing demand for computing power driven by new technologies and applications such as 5G, big data, and artificial intelligence, and the supportive role of computing power in economic and social development is becoming increasingly prominent,” Zhuang Rongwen, chair of the WIC, said in a speech at the forum.
Zhuang, also minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China, stressed the need to promote the building of a computing power network to empower the digital transformation of various industries and fields in the face of new opportunities brought by the development of computing power.
“We should build an intelligent and efficient, inclusive and convenient, green and low-carbon, secure and stable, and mutually beneficial computing power network to strengthen the computing power foundation that supports the digital transformation of the economy and society,” Zhuang said.
John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd., an international mobile operator association, and Zhao Houlin, former secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union, also attended and addressed the forum.
“As 5G continues to advance, it opens up enormous opportunities for us all. And as an industry, our next phase of growth is going to come from opening up and making sure we continue working with hyperscalers and developers to build a digital ecosystem that will benefit operators, industries and consumers everywhere,” said Hoffman.
Highlighting the Chinese operators’ achievement in this field, Hoffman said, “When it comes to deployment and service offerings on computing power network, Chinese operators are leading the way.”
The attendees of the forum also emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation in technological innovation, industrial development, ecosystem building, and other critical areas.
They voiced their hope that the WIC will play a more significant role in providing a platform for all parties to jointly promote the building and implementation of computing power network, accelerating digital transformation, and enabling digital technology to better benefit humanity.
The WIC said that it will continue to leverage its role as a global platform for exchange and cooperation in cyberspace, build consensus on governance and development in the digital field, and promote the building of a community with a shared future in cyberspace.
