NIF Asia 2026 | China Unicom Global Deeply Participates to Jointly Discuss New Pathways for Computing-Network Convergence in the AI Era
[Bali, Indonesia, August 14, 2026] To accelerate the re-architecture of digital infrastructure and regional economic synergy in the AI era, NIDA, in joint collaboration with the APAC IPv6 Council and MASTEL Indonesia, successfully convened Network Innovation Forum Asia 2026. As a Governing Board Member and key participant of NIDA, China Unicom participated deeply throughout the event, delivering to the Asia-Pacific industry its latest strategic achievements in computing-network convergence and international AI deployment.
First, Leo Liu, Product Expert at China Unicom Singapore, delivered a keynote speech titled "FROM CONNECTIVITY TO INTELLIGENCE—Building the Next Generation of Telco Digital Services with Compute and Tokens," introducing advanced networking experiences from China Unicom Global and China Unicom Research Institute to ASEAN guests at the summit. He pointed out that China Unicom is accelerating its transformation into an integrated AI service provider. Relying on the "StarMatrix International Computing Platform," China Unicom aggregates multiple types of large models and heterogeneous computing resources, deepening ecosystem cooperation with local partners in Southeast Asia through standardized products, local computing power deployment, and vertical industry co-creation to continuously expand the regional AI service market.
Subsequently, during the panel session of the summit, Darren Goh, General Manager of ASEAN Carrier Business at China Unicom, shared insightful perspectives on industrial cooperation in ASEAN countries with other telecommunications guests from ASEAN nations. Furthermore, during the ASEAN Industrial Cooperation Special Seminar on the afternoon of August 14, he engaged in deep exchanges with attending ASEAN experts and communications equipment manufacturers—including Huawei—around the theme "Challenges and Opportunities of Network Evolution in the AI Era," focusing on existing pain points in the network industry, core challenges requiring prioritized resolution, and the empowering value of international industrial collaboration. Integrating China Unicom's business practices in the ASEAN market, he also shared observations and reflections on regional network evolution and industrial synergy.
The national conditions of ASEAN countries dictate that basic telecommunications and enterprise services in each nation are led by local major operators. These tier-1 operators require comprehensive, full-service operational experience—a capability that China's top three operators fully possess. Moreover, throughout China's development from the reform and opening-up to today, its demographic shifts and urban development closely mirror those of many ASEAN countries or regions, making its experience highly referenceable. In this process, the operators' experience in supporting urban development can provide valuable references for operators and industrial growth across ASEAN nations.
As an international industrial cooperation organization, NIDA remains long-term committed to leveraging the rich experiences of its member units—spanning communication equipment manufacturers, research institutes, and telecom operators—to build a bridge of mutual learning between ASEAN countries, other nations, and industry players, jointly driving the continuous advancement of the telecommunications industry!
