Huawei Drives Urban Mobility Forward with Smart Rail Innovations in Hong Kong

Huawei Smart Urban Rail Summit: Innovating Urban Transportation

On May 11, 2025, the Huawei Smart Urban Rail Summit took place in Hong Kong, emphasizing the theme of leveraging cloud services and AI technology to create smarter urban rail systems. This event brought together industry leaders and experts to discuss the role of digital integration in optimizing urban transit and enhancing passenger experience.

Thomas Xu, the Vice President of Huawei's Smart Transportation business unit, highlighted the crucial need for adopting adaptable IT and digital technologies to meet unique service requirements in urban rail systems. With an increasing focus on smart solutions, urban transportation must evolve to include advanced resources that bolster both operational efficiency and service delivery.

Tony Lee Kar-yun, Operations and Innovation Director at MTR, shared insights on how integrating digital resources with innovative AI applications could drastically improve operational efficiency and passenger experiences. He noted that establishing such integrations is essential for developing efficient urban transport networks and creating a more convenient community lifestyle.

The conversation continued with Xi Xiaodong, Chief Engineer of Shanghai Rail Transit Maintenance Support Co., who stressed the necessity for metro operators to blend external resources with enhanced internal capabilities. This integration is vital for achieving high-quality development within urban transit systems.

Nelson Huang, Huawei's Director of Railway Operations within the Smart Transportation unit, also underscored the importance of incorporating cutting-edge ICT solutions such as big data, 5G, AI, and IoT technologies. These solutions are foundational for developing smart urban railway networks that cater effectively to modern transportation needs.

The summit also featured Xiong Xinbin, the rotating CEO and Senior Vice President of the Beijing Railway Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. He discussed the implementation of Pangu models to enhance rail transport efficiency, utilizing the Ascend and Kunpeng platforms to build robust data ecosystems while integrating AI to establish a comprehensive smart operations management platform.

During the panel discussion that followed the keynote addresses, experts including Ji Kun from Huawei, Datuk Dr. Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman of Malaysian Rail Industry Corporation, Chan Hing-keung from MTR, and others deliberated on the technological enablement scenarios. They identified key transformation challenges, data value extraction, and user experience enhancement strategies.

Huawei has established its presence in over 70 cities worldwide, serving more than 300 urban rail lines. The company aims to deepen collaboration with industry partners while adhering to the principles of openness, cooperation, and shared success. Their commitment is to ensure the achievement of seamless travel systems and smooth logistics intertwined with digital transportation innovations.

As urban areas continue to grow, the significance of advanced transport systems becomes increasingly apparent. Huawei's unwavering focus on smart urban rail solutions exemplifies their dedication to nurturing efficient and sustainable urban mobility, ultimately improving the quality of life in cities worldwide.