Samsung and Verizon Successfully Complete ISAC Trial Over Virtualized Network at Global Sports Event
Samsung Electronics and Verizon have successfully completed an Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) trial at a major international soccer fan event in Dallas, Texas, demonstrating how next-generation networks can deliver real-time, sensing-driven intelligence through a virtualized network.
The field trial represents one of the industry’s early practical implementations of ISAC, a key technology being explored for 6G networks. The demonstration highlights how software-driven network architectures can evolve beyond traditional connectivity to actively sense, analyze, and respond to surrounding environments.
By combining Samsung’s commercial virtualized network technologies with Verizon’s software-driven, AI-powered virtualized RAN (vRAN) infrastructure, the companies demonstrated how existing commercial network platforms can provide a foundation for testing emerging 6G use cases in real-world environments.
Advancing 6G Through Virtualized Networks
The successful trial highlights the strategic collaboration between Samsung and Verizon and the role of flexible, software-based network infrastructure in accelerating the development of future wireless technologies.
Verizon operates one of the world’s largest commercial virtualized networks and has made significant investments in software-driven, AI-powered vRAN. This architecture provides the flexibility needed to introduce and validate emerging capabilities without requiring an entirely new network infrastructure.
For the ISAC trial, Samsung leveraged Verizon’s existing 5G network infrastructure to demonstrate how sensing capabilities can be integrated into a commercial virtualized environment. The approach illustrates how operators can use their existing network investments as a foundation for introducing new services and applications as technology evolves toward 6G.
Samsung integrated its commercial AI-powered vRAN and virtualized core, or vCore, with an ISAC application and deployed the solution on its Network in a Server (NIS) platform. NIS is an end-to-end, software-driven edge-AI platform designed to consolidate network functions and accelerated computing capabilities into a single server.
This architecture enabled the ISAC application to use connectivity from the existing 5G network without requiring additional network equipment, demonstrating the flexibility of a virtualized infrastructure for supporting emerging sensing and AI applications.
Turning Wireless Signals Into Real-Time Insights
At the event, a CBRS radio unit using 40 MHz of spectrum was mounted on a Verizon Cell-On-Wheels (COW) and configured to operate as a sensing receiver. The radio unit captured channel variations in transmissions from a commercial 5G device as people moved throughout the event environment.
Samsung’s NIS platform processed the real-time wireless data using accelerated computing resources. The system analyzed the channel variations and extracted actionable information, which was then visualized through a crowd-density heatmap.
The heatmap updated in near real time to reflect changes in crowd movement and distribution, demonstrating how wireless signals can be used as a sensing mechanism without requiring attendees to carry specialized sensing equipment.
The live demonstration provided a practical example of how ISAC technology could support applications that extend beyond traditional wireless communications.
Supporting Smarter and Safer Events
The ISAC system demonstrated how real-time environmental intelligence could provide value to multiple groups involved in managing large-scale events.
Attendees could potentially use crowd-density information to identify less congested food facilities, services, and other areas throughout a venue. By providing visibility into crowd distribution, such capabilities could help visitors make more informed decisions, improve access to services, and reduce wait times.
Event organizers could gain real-time visibility into crowd distribution and facility utilization. This information could help teams identify areas experiencing increased activity, deploy resources more efficiently, and optimize venue operations as conditions change.
Security and government organizations could potentially use sensing-based insights to identify emerging overcrowding conditions and other situations that may require intervention. Early visibility into crowd patterns could support more proactive crowd-management strategies and contribute to public safety efforts.
Together, these applications illustrate how ISAC could expand the role of wireless networks from simply transmitting information to generating actionable intelligence about physical environments.
Combining Commercial Technology With 6G Research
The demonstration brings together Samsung’s commercially deployed network technologies with its advanced research into future wireless systems.
The trial leveraged Samsung’s commercially proven vRAN software and its NIS edge-AI platform, along with the AI-driven ISAC solution developed by Samsung Research America (SRA). By combining these technologies in a live environment, the companies demonstrated a practical pathway for introducing advanced sensing capabilities into existing network infrastructure.
“Verizon’s strategy has always been focused on building an intelligent, AI-native network that translates into meaningful real-world value for our customers,” said Yago Tenorio, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Technology Development at Verizon. “Our early investments in flexible, software-driven vRAN architecture are paying off today, giving us the agility to engineer and trial groundbreaking 6G concepts like ISAC over our existing infrastructure. This field trial with Samsung proves that the network of the future will do far more than just transfer data — it will actively perceive and interact with its environment to transform venue management and public safety.”
Ji-Yun Seol, Executive Vice President and Head of Product Strategy, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics, said the trial demonstrates the importance of software-driven network architecture in preparing operators for the evolution toward 6G.
“This successful ISAC trial underscores how Verizon’s decision to adopt a software-driven, AI-powered vRAN early on laid a solid foundation, positioning the company at the forefront of the 6G journey,” said Seol. “With this approach, forward-thinking operators like Verizon are unlocking untapped potential, spearheading the shift toward a new era where unprecedented services, devices, and use cases converge on next-generation networks.”
Charlie Zhang, Executive Vice President at Samsung Research America, said the demonstration highlights the potential of combining AI-driven sensing with network infrastructure.
“This ISAC trial marks a significant leap forward in integrating AI-driven sensing capabilities into network infrastructure, showcasing the transformative potential of 6G technologies,” said Zhang. “By combining Verizon’s innovative approach with Samsung’s advanced vRAN solutions, we’ve demonstrated the practical application of ISAC in a real-world scenario to enhance safety, efficiency, and user experience. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in next-generation wireless networks.”
Building the Foundation for 6G
As a founding member of the Verizon 6G Innovation Forum, Samsung continues to collaborate with industry partners to explore emerging use cases, advance research initiatives, and contribute to the development of next-generation network technologies.
The companies’ latest ISAC demonstration reflects their broader efforts to explore how AI, sensing, virtualization, and advanced wireless technologies can work together to expand the capabilities of future networks.
Samsung Networks has played a role in the development and deployment of 5G end-to-end solutions spanning chipsets, radios, and core technologies. Through continued research and development, Samsung is advancing technologies designed to support the evolution of 5G while laying the groundwork for 6G and beyond.
Its portfolio includes purpose-built RAN, vRAN, Open RAN, AI RAN, cloud-native core solutions, private networks, and AI-powered automation tools such as CognitiV NOS.
Through these technologies, Samsung continues to work with mobile operators around the world to develop network solutions that provide connectivity to hundreds of millions of users while exploring new capabilities that could define the next generation of wireless communications.
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