ZTE is stepping into a new phase of home connectivity with its combined focus on 50G Passive Optical Network (PON) technology and artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at the FTTH Conference in Amsterdam, ZTE Vice President Peter Hu laid out a roadmap that positions ZTE Wifi7 as a pivotal element in enabling seamless, high-performance, and intelligent in-home experiences. With live 50G PON deployments across regions like Italy, Egypt, and Turkey, and AI-enhanced solutions entering households, the company’s access strategy is rapidly evolving.
Building on Compatibility: ZTE Wifi7 and the Evolution of Access Networks
At the core of ZTE’s 50G PON rollout strategy is the principle of maintaining continuity with existing optical infrastructure. “From 1G to 10G to 50G, we’ve ensured a smooth upgrade path without changing the Optical Distribution Network (ODN),” said Peter Hu. This approach greatly reduces operational disruptions and eliminates the need for labor-intensive upgrades in densely populated areas where infrastructure replacement would otherwise slow progress.
ZTE’s solutions are engineered to offer full visibility into the passive components of fiber networks. This allows operators to detect faults quickly and resolve them with less manual intervention. It also opens the door to automatic, self-healing networks that reduce the time and resources commonly associated with troubleshooting.
Optimizing Investments with High-Density Architecture
Reducing CAPEX with Scalable 50G Platforms
ZTE Wifi7 and fixed access deployments are anchored on scalable, high-density equipment. According to Peter Hu, “Our 16-port symmetrical 50G PON Combo board is the highest-density solution available.” The board supports concurrent GPON and 10G PON services, giving operators the flexibility to roll out 50G PON incrementally. This coexistence ensures a controlled shift toward high-bandwidth services without needing a wholesale upgrade of network assets.
Lowering OPEX with Smarter In-Home Connectivity
Operators are increasingly pressured to address service complaints that stem not from core network issues, but from inconsistent Wifi7 experiences inside the home. Recognizing this, ZTE has built a suite of AI tools that work at the residential gateway level. These include AI-generated heatmaps, smart antenna calibration, and in-home diagnostics that can be accessed remotely by the operator.
The tools enable field technicians to pinpoint weak signal zones and interference sources without stepping inside the customer’s residence. This significantly reduces service call costs and helps maintain high levels of user satisfaction.
ZTE Wifi7 and the Last Meter: Where User Experience Begins
AI-Driven Innovation for the Connected Home
ZTE Wifi7 isn’t confined to speed improvements alone. Hu emphasized that the final meter inside the home is often where the network experience breaks down. ZTE is working on both Wifi7 7 and Wifi7 8, but with a key difference—intelligence.
In one example, ZTE’s AI-enabled system can monitor motion patterns inside a residence. “If the system detects abnormal body posture—say, lying on the floor—a robotic camera is dispatched, enabling remote caregivers to check in without requiring 24/7 video monitoring,” said Hu. This capability supports aging-in-place care models and could reduce the need for full-time human supervision.
Gesture Control and Private NAS: Expanding Functional Boundaries
ZTE Wifi7 solutions extend beyond internet access. Motion-based controls have been integrated for gaming and media playback, which offers interaction models similar to early motion-sensing consoles. On the storage front, the integration of AI-driven Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems enables local photo archiving to reduce reliance on cloud providers and mitigate privacy concerns.
One key enabler here is ZTE’s use of Deepseek, an open-source AI engine embedded directly into Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). This integration allows operators to run localized AI services, giving them control over experiences traditionally dominated by third-party platforms.
Redesigning Network Topologies for Agility
Traditional telco infrastructure has long relied on ring topologies. While effective, they can be rigid and expensive to scale. ZTE is promoting star-shaped data center architectures that offer improved flexibility and lower cost. This structure is better suited for AI-enhanced services and localized computing, both of which are becoming increasingly relevant in home and business applications.
To support these changes, ZTE is aligning its transport solutions with IP and optical convergence. This reduces the number of hardware layers and simplifies operations. “With our experience in 4G/5G backhaul, and now in fixed access,” Hu stated. The goal is to build end-to-end architectures that work seamlessly from the core to the access layer.
50G PON and the Market Outlook
Addressing Business Use Cases First
In its early phases, 50G PON is best suited to business applications such as virtual reality training in education, real-time surveillance in SMEs, and remote healthcare diagnostics. These environments demand high bandwidth and low latency—requirements that align well with 50G PON capabilities.

Hu pointed out that Wifi7 performance inside homes must catch up before mass-market applications can take full advantage of the new access speeds. He projected that a broader consumer transition—referred to internally as the “50G/XGS flipping point”—will occur between 2026 and 2028.
Preparing Now for Consumer-Grade Adoption
Operators are encouraged to begin integrating 50G PON components now, even if broad consumer adoption remains a few years away. By doing so, they position themselves to scale without service disruptions or sudden infrastructure investments. Compatibility across PON generations means that the current rollout will serve as the foundation for future upgrades.
Reclaiming Control from OTT Providers
One of the overarching themes in Hu’s comments was the need for telecom operators to regain control over the digital experiences delivered to homes. ZTE Wifi7’s AI-integrated CPE and flexible Fiber-to-the-Room (FTTR) architectures provide an opportunity to differentiate services.
“The network is no longer just a pipe—it’s a platform for innovation. ZTE is here to help operators build smarter, leaner, and more valuable networks for the future.” This could shift value back into the operator’s domain and reduce reliance on external service layers provided by tech giants.
ZTE Wifi7 as a Strategic Enabler
ZTE is currently working with more than 300 operators across over 100 countries. With a growing portfolio that includes AI-enabled FTTR, high-density 50G PON boards, and Wifi7 8-ready CPE, ZTE Wifi7 is positioned to support operators across technical and commercial dimensions.
The strategic advantage lies in ZTE’s approach to incremental evolution—supporting today’s operations while preparing for tomorrow’s requirements. As bandwidth demand grows and AI applications proliferate inside homes, operators need infrastructure partners that can deliver performance without rewriting their entire networks. ZTE Wifi7 is helping deliver that balance.