ZTE Advances "Connectivity + Computing" Dual-Engine Strategy with Four-V Framework

• ZTE unveiled "Four-V" strategic framework at ZTE Global Summit & User Congress 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, deepening the "Connectivity + Computing" dual-engine strategy
• The Four-V framework covers VISION, VOLUME, VALUE and VENTURE, driving systematic upgrades across infrastructure architecture, operational efficiency, value monetization and ecosystem collaboration
• The summit marks a key strategic milestone for ZTE, accelerating the industry’s evolution from the Bit Economy to the Token Economy

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, September 10, 2026 - ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, officially launched its full strategic blueprint for the AI era at ZTE Global Summit & User Congress 2026. The opening keynote address introduced the "Four-V" strategic framework consisting of VISION, VOLUME, VALUE and VENTURE. The framework underpins ZTE's "Connectivity + Computing" dual-engine strategy, and aims to collaborate with global industry partners to upgrade digital infrastructure and navigate the industry transformation from the Bit Economy to the Token Economy.

Zhang Wanchun, Senior Vice President of ZTE, noted in his speech that over the past 14 years, ZTE Global Summit has traveled across continents from Rome to Milan, Vienna to Istanbul, tracking the evolution of the ICT industry and celebrating the trust with customers and partners worldwide. "Today we gather at a pivotal moment, shaped by two powerful, interconnected forces transforming our industry," he said. "The first is connectivity: after years of development, the industry is shifting its focus from network scaling to value creation. The second is intelligent computing: in just a few short years, AI has evolved from content generation to reasoning, tool use and autonomous action. Computing is no longer just infrastructure - it is becoming a new engine of productivity." He emphasized that the convergence of connectivity and intelligent computing is ushering in a new phase of digital infrastructure, which is not only an opportunity but also a shared mission for the entire ICT industry.

VISION: Forward-looking Layout with Strategic Priorities

Against the core industry question of where long-term value will come from over the next decade in the AI era, ZTE's answer remains clear: connectivity is the foundation, and computing is the growth engine.

When ZTE launched its "Connectivity + Computing" strategy last year, it was a bold vision. Today, with aligning industry trends and accelerating internal progress, the path forward has been clearly validated. In connectivity, ZTE maintains strategic investment to sustain leadership across 5G, core networks, optical transport and fixed broadband. It is rolling out 5G-Advanced while actively developing next-generation technologies including 6G, 50G PON and Wi-Fi 8 to stay ahead of future demand. In computing, growth momentum is accelerating rapidly: in the first half of 2026, computing-related revenue grew over 55% year-on-year, now accounting for 35.1% of ZTE's total revenue. "Connectivity and Computing is no longer just a strategy. It is now the core driver of our growth," Zhang Wanchun stated.

ZTE remains fully committed to this dual-engine strategy, and will continue partnering with operators worldwide to build smarter, more resilient digital infrastructure for the AI era and shape the next decade of innovation together.

VOLUME: Solidify Infrastructure, Scale AI-Native Foundation

Today's infrastructure demands not only higher performance, but also greater energy efficiency, faster delivery, simpler operations and lower cost. ZTE advances both large-scale deployment and architecture-level reengineering of infrastructure.

In communication networks, ZTE supports global operators in building and operating large-scale networks. In Indonesia, ZTE worked with XLSMART to deploy over 25,000 sites, 90% of which leverage AI-powered energy-saving solutions, achieving over 10% reduction in power consumption.

In intelligent computing infrastructure, the Karakoram-01 Data Center in Pakistan stands as a landmark project. It is the largest data center for both general-purpose and AI computing in Pakistan, and the country's first AI-ready Tier-III data center. With a total power capacity of 8.5 megawatts and a PUE below 1.15, the project was delivered in just eight months. Globally, ZTE's data center solutions have been deployed in over 500 projects, spanning more than 400,000 racks with a total power capacity of 3,200 megawatts.

Scaling alone is not enough - infrastructure must be re-architected for the AI era. ZTE is pioneering the OEX architecture, an innovative cable-free, backplane-free SuperPOD design. This breakthrough earned ZTE the SAIL Star Award at the World AI Conference 2026.

VALUE: Unlock Full Value, Enable Intelligent Monetization

Great technology alone is not enough. As infrastructure reaches scale and quality maturity, the next challenge emerges: how to transform technological power into real business value. This is the true test for the industry.

In connectivity, a fundamental shift is underway: as markets mature, growth can no longer rely solely on traffic volume. The future is not about moving more bits - it is about delivering better experiences and greater customer value. ZTE's practices validate this evolution: in a university campus serving over 20,000 students, a lightweight 5G-Advanced acceleration service has already gained over 3,600 subscribers. In another case, by applying precise user identification and experience assurance in traffic hotspots, ZTE increased mobile data traffic share from 31.3% to 42.5%. The message is clear: the value of connectivity is evolving from traffic growth to experience-led monetization.

In the AI era, ZTE puts forward the Token as a new unit of value. As AI shifts from content generation to reasoning and action, the Token is emerging as the fundamental measure of AI service delivery. This changes the game from individual chip performance to a full-stack race.

"In the past, we optimized the cost of every bit. Today, we must optimize the cost of every token," Zhang Wanchun remarked. "This is the shift - from the Bit Economy to the Token Economy. A true evolution of value in the age of AI."

VENTURE: Empower Intelligent Future, Achieve Win-Win Ecosystem

As infrastructure scales and the value of AI becomes increasingly clear, the next mission is to push the boundaries of intelligence deeper, further and broader than ever before.

AI cannot remain an add-on. It must be built into every layer of the network. With AI RAN, AI Core, AI Optical and AI Computing, networks will no longer just connect. They will sense, optimize, heal and orchestrate - autonomously and intelligently.

Intelligence is also transforming entire industries beyond telecommunications. ZTE's Nanjing Binjiang Factory is a living proof point. From "manufacturing 5G with 5G" to biomimetic smart factory and introducing Nebula, its vertical large model, then pioneering AI agents for autonomous operations and maintenance, moving closer to end-to-end intelligent manufacturing. This is industrial intelligence in action, driven by connectivity, computing, AI models and AI agents - and it is ready to be scaled across industries.

No single company can achieve this alone. AI thrives on collaboration between operators, technology providers, developers and industry partners. At the summit, ZTE launched its 2026 ecosystem investment plan. ZTE will keep its platforms open, bring together the entire value chain, and work hand-in-hand with customers and partners worldwide to build a more open, inclusive and intelligent AI ecosystem. As it deploys infrastructure globally, ZTE will also invest locally, supporting digital transformation, talent development and long-term industry growth.

Concluding the speech, Zhang Wanchun summarized the path ahead with the Four-V framework: VISION for a clear direction toward an intelligent future that transforms every industry; VOLUME for scaling innovation fast, wide and with excellence; VALUE for turning infrastructure into meaningful business; and VENTURE for pushing boundaries together into new frontiers. Driven by its dual engines of connectivity and computing, ZTE will innovate relentlessly side by side with partners to unlock new opportunities and shared success.