ZTE unveils TCO-optimal AI factory at MWC Shanghai 2026

The Chinese tech giant showcased an AIOS-powered ecosystem aimed at boosting token efficiency and cutting costs.

Courtesy: ZTE

Build a more intelligent, efficient connectivity foundation

According to the company, the factory is an AIOS-powered ecosystem spanning scenario-based applications and innovative terminals, and cutting-edge breakthroughs in AI-driven networks at MWC Shanghai 2026.

TCO-optimal AI factories are the key to boosting token efficiency and achieving "token freedom."

At MWC Shanghai 2026, ZTE showcased solutions that enhanced token efficiency and minimized the cost-per-token through the deep synergy of various elements, including SuperPod, extremely cost-efficient inference, and AIDC with ultimate energy efficiency.

Building on 41 years of accumulated expertise in the R&D and engineering of ultra-large-scale, complex systems, ZTE has launched its SuperPod solution.

Leveraging multi-chip open collaboration design and the innovative Orthogonal Electrical eXchange (OEX) architecture, it enables plug-and-play deployment and rapid provisioning. A single rack supports 128 GPUs, with high scalability up to 16,000 GPUs, laying a foundation for high-efficiency computing in model training and inference.

Through the synergy of network, storage, and computing, as well as hardware and software, ZTE achieves extremely cost-efficient inference. With a non-blocking network and Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB), ZTE's solution enables efficient coordination across computing clusters ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of GPUs, further boosting overall inference efficiency.

ZTE has also developed its AIDC solution with ultimate energy efficiency, which integrates 800V HVDC power supply, full-stack liquid cooling, and intelligent computing-electricity synergy, enabling highly efficient and low-carbon operations.

The AI factory addresses the challenge of low-cost token production, while AIOS plays a critical role in token scheduling, orchestration, and service-oriented output.

ZTE has launched the NewStart AIOS and positioned it as the "technological foundation in the AI era." Built on AIOS, Co-Claw—an enterprise-level agent platform—is fully integrated into ZTE terminals, extending AI services to production and daily life.

When it comes to 6G development, ZTE centers around "AI+" and "SAGIN", speeding up the evolution of 6G from research to commercial use.

Regarding SAGIN, ZTE has launched industry-leading LEO satellite communication payload solutions compatible with diverse application scenarios of SAGIN for 5G-A and 6G, fostering the critical connectivity foundation for a smooth evolution from 5G-A to 6G.

As for AI-native communications, ZTE has demonstrated its GigaMIMO solution and the world's first 256 TR U6G prototype in the 6G Zone at this event. With GigaMIMO, a cornerstone technology for 6G, the solution leverages architecture innovation, computing synergy, and algorithmic breakthroughs to systematically overcome critical bottlenecks in future network capacity, coverage, and spectral efficiency, thus speeding up 6G deployment and industry evolution.

Meanwhile, there is the AIR MAX solution that comprehensively upgrades the network architecture with AI at its core and delivers a three-tier capability system involving the AI-native infrastructure, autonomous operations, and monetization engine.

There is also the AI HI-NET solution that delivers three key capabilities—AI-native, ultra-high-speed and lossless, and intrinsically secure, laying a solid network foundation for ubiquitous intelligent computing access, lossless wide-area connectivity, and the integration of computing, network, security, and service.

The 10G AI-Optical Network solution has been widely deployed across homes, campuses, small businesses, and other key scenarios, unlocking the greater value of all-optical cities.

Meanwhile, ZTE continues to promote key scenario applications through innovations such as new calling with an AI assistant, "first-class" mobile network services, ISAC for low-altitude economy, and highly autonomous networks. These efforts are made to build a more intelligent, efficient, and trustworthy connectivity foundation for the AI era.

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