Set to begin in October 2026, the projects will deploy 5G Standalone (SA) private networks across industrial environments, ranging from shipyards to petrochemical facilities, to validate AI RAN capabilities and generate real-world insights for future deployments.

As part of the Korean MSIT’s initiative, the projects bring together operators, network solution providers, and other industry partners. The collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, including AI RAN, physical AI, and autonomous operations, while laying the groundwork for the transition to 6G.

“Korea has long stood at the forefront of global digital and technological advancement. As a key partner with deep roots in this region, we are proud to drive the next stage of network innovation alongside leading operators through these AI RAN projects,” said June Moon, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “As AI evolves toward embodied intelligence, networks are becoming platforms that connect a new generation of intelligent machines, including humanoids and autonomous vehicles. Bringing AI RAN and physical AI together in real-world industrial settings marks a meaningful step toward the future of connectivity.”

AI Powered Welding Robots At Shipyards

At the Yeongam Shipyard of HD Hyundai Samho, a prominent global shipbuilder, KT will carry out field trials of key physical AI services, ranging from welding and painting robots in manufacturing environments to autonomous robots for telecom facility operations.

For the AI-powered quadruped welding robot use case, Samsung will support KT with its software-driven, AI-native solutions, including Network in a Server (NIS) — an integrated edge AI platform comprising virtualized RAN (vRAN), AI Core, and AI applications — and Samsung CognitiV Network Operations Suite (NOS) for intelligent network automation. Leveraging 5G connectivity and the edge AI platform, the quadruped robot can autonomously perceive its working environment and perform precise welding.

With these capabilities, Samsung is addressing the demanding network requirements of physical AI services in industrial settings, where ultra-low latency, high reliability, and consistent throughput are critical for real-time robotic control. Designed for on-premise deployment and local processing, NIS brings network and AI capabilities closer to where data is generated and decisions are made. It runs vRAN and 5G SA core software on an AMD EPYC 8004 Server CPU-powered commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Compact Edge Server from Supermicro with Wind River Cloud Platform. Its software-driven architecture also enables flexible scaling, with the ability to incorporate accelerated GPU compute as needed to meet site-specific requirements. 

“KT views this project as an important starting point for validating the next-generation communications paradigm where AI and networks converge,” said Jongsik Lee, Executive Vice President, KT. “Together with Samsung, we will demonstrate a range of Physical AI services in an AI-RAN-enabled private network environment and secure the key technologies and service models that will lead the AI-Native 6G era.”

Autonomous Patrol Robots at Petrochemical Facilities

As another key part of the country’s Hyper AI Network initiative, SK Telecom will validate physical AI services at SK Incheon Petrochem, a major energy hub for the Seoul metropolitan area. These capabilities include an autonomous robot that patrols hazardous areas and CCTV-based monitoring. The patrol robot transfers high-definition videos in real time while on the move, enabling AI analysis to detect potential hazards and facilitate integrated monitoring.

Samsung is providing its AI-native NIS solution for SK Telecom’s project. The companies will explore how AI-native connectivity can further enhance safety and efficiency in petrochemical environments, where complex chemical processes require rigorous monitoring and operational precision.

“At SK Telecom, we believe AI creates greater value when paired with the right foundation to support it, and this project puts that belief into practice,” said Takki Yu, Head of Network Technology Office at SK Telecom. “Drawing on our AI expertise, we will work with Samsung to validate physical AI services in real-world environments and advance AI RAN as a key technology underpinning the government’s Hyper AI Network initiative and its AI Highway agenda.”

Samsung’s AI RAN delivers a range of capabilities, including anomaly detection, throughput enhancement, and energy efficiency improvements, all validated on live networks around the globe. Building on this experience, Samsung continues to work with leading operators and partners to expand the real-world footprint of AI-native, 6G-ready networks and propel the adoption of AI-driven services across global markets.

Samsung Networks has pioneered the successful delivery of 5G end-to-end solutions, including chipsets, radios, and cores. Through ongoing research and development, Samsung is driving the industry to advance 5G networks and paving the way for 6G and beyond with its market-leading product portfolio, from purpose-built RAN, vRAN, Open RAN, AI RAN, and cloud-native AI core to private network solutions and AI-powered automation tools (CognitiV NOS). The company currently provides innovative network solutions to mobile operators that deliver boundless connectivity to hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

Following the first 6G white paper “The Next Hyper-Connected Experience for All.” in July 2020, this white paper covers the latest trends driving 6G standardization and next-generation mobile communications — including evolving market and technology needs, emerging services, key attributes of 6G and enabling technologies.

Samsung aims to integrate the latest AI technology throughout the telecommunication system and improve network quality for a future-oriented and sustainable user experience.

“We are intensifying our 6G research efforts, focusing on AI-enabled communication technologies and sustainable networks,” said Charlie Zhang, Senior Vice President of Advanced Communications Research Center (ACRC), Samsung Research. “As the telecommunication industry accelerates 6G standardization this year, Samsung will develop technologies to align with market demands.”

Market and Technology Trends Toward 6G

Mobile data traffic has surged, driven by the proliferation of AI technologies and the rise of streaming services. Now more than ever, there is a pressing need for technological advancements to manage increased data traffic and enhance user experiences in next-generation mobile communications.

Since the introduction of 5G, the telecommunications industry has been particularly focused on optimizing system operations, sustainability and user experiences. Beyond communication performance improvements such as data rates and latency, there is an urgency to reduce operating costs, enhance energy efficiency, expand service coverage and introduce innovative technologies such as AI.

Emerging Services

5G-Advanced will provide further enhanced 5G performance and incorporate AI to support new services and use cases — ultimately becoming the foundation for 6G technology.

In this white paper, some key emerging services such as immersive extended reality (XR), digital twin, massive communication, ubiquitous connectivity and fixed wireless access (FWA) are highlighted.

6G Key Attributes

In the white paper, Samsung highlighted four key attributes crucial to adapting to evolving market demands — AI-native, sustainable network, ubiquitous coverage and secure and resilient network.

6G Timeline

With the release of this white paper, Samsung solidifies its leadership in shaping the direction of 6G research and key technologies.

The telecommunications industry and standardization organizations have been researching 6G since 2020. In 2030, the 6G technology standards are expected to be finalized — following candidate technology development, evaluation and consensus-building processes. With the recent timelines from the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R)[1]and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP),[2]momentum for 6G research and development is expected to intensify.

Samsung will continue to lead global standardization efforts and prepare for the 6G era while incorporating lessons learned from 5G commercialization and adapting to new market requirements.

Last November, Samsung held the Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summitand hosted an in-depth discussion with industry experts on the convergence of telecommunications and AI technologies. The company demonstrated AI-RAN technologies and Proof of Concept (PoC) results, showcasing the possibilities of AI-native technologies and garnering significant interest from major telecommunications operators.

[1]ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies with memberships of 193 Member States and more than 1,000 companies, universities, research institutes and international and regional organizations. The ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) is responsible for regulating and standardizing global radio communication.

[2]3GPP is dedicated to developing the global unified technical specifications for mobile communications.

Samsung Electronics today hosted the Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit under the theme “Future Wireless for the AI Era” in Mountain View, California.

Following the announcement of 5G-Advanced standards by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP[1] ) in March, the industry anticipates an expanded application of AI technology in telecommunications. In particular, as preparations for 6G communications intensify, interest in next-generation communication technologies utilizing AI continues to grow.

In this environment, Samsung Electronics organized the Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit to share the vision and possibilities that come with a communications system that applies AI technology.

The event attracted approximately 80 distinguished participants, including representatives from major telecommunications operators, manufacturers, government agencies and academia from various countries, who engaged in comprehensive discussions about the trajectory of research and technologies for AI-native[2]communications.

“Since the introduction of 5G, the telecommunications market has increasingly focused on enhancing user experience alongside performance improvements through innovative technologies like AI and energy efficiency advancements,” said Angelo Jeongho Park, Vice President of Samsung Research’s Advanced Communications Research Center at Samsung Electronics. “Starting with this summit, we will help industry and academic leaders to work together to continue the much-needed research already being carried out on the convergence of AI and wireless communication technologies, making the user experience even better.”

Sharing Developments in AI-Native Communication Technology: The Direction of Next-Gen Communication Research

The summit commenced with a keynote presentation from industry experts titled, “Shaping the Future of Next Generation Mobile Communication,” followed by three main sessions: “AI-Native Communication,” “Sustainability: Energy Saving & Efficiency,” and “Innovations to Drive Future Wireless.” Each session included panel discussions, facilitating dynamic exchanges between participants through Q&A sessions and active debates.

In “AI-Native Communication,” participants carried out an in-depth discussion on the potential benefits of AI-Native being applied to all areas of telecommunications, as well as emerging services and key challenges that require resolution.

“Sustainability: Energy Saving & Efficiency” focused on key technologies and required research for sustainable 6G communication systems that are emerging as major technical trends — including energy savings and efficiency improvements.

Later on, the discussions between panelists at “Innovations to Drive Future Wireless” explored the 6G network architecture innovations needed to provide services and user experiences that are more differentiated than those provided by 5G.

The technical demonstration session that closed out the day introduced AI radio access network (RAN) technology that has been jointly developed by Samsung Electronics and its partners. The cutting-edge technology that applies AI to RAN enhances base station quality by optimizing key performance factors such as spectral efficiency and energy efficiency.

The event facilitated the valuable exchange of information between key players while also addressing the path forward for the industry, which will see the convergence of AI and wireless communication technologies.

Improving User Experiences with AI-Native Next-Gen Communication Technology

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics continues its efforts to expand the global influence of next-generation communication technologies utilizing AI.

In February this year, the company served as a founding member of the AI-RAN Alliance, currently holding board membership and vice chairing the AI on RAN working group. In July, Samsung secured the chairpersonship of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 6G standardization group in the radio communication sector, demonstrating its commitment to 6G research and ecosystem development. The company has also been reappointed as vice chair of the board of directors at Next G Alliance (NGA), strengthening its leadership in AI-native communications technology even further.

Additionally, the company actively solidified its collaborative efforts in August, when it signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese mobile carrier NTT DOCOMO for joint research on the application of AI in next-generation communications.

[1] 3GPP is dedicated to developing the global unified technical specifications for mobile communications.

[2] AI-native technologies are fundamentally designed and built around AI from inception, rather than having AI added at a later stage.