Samsung Advances Korea’s AI RAN Vision With KT and SK Telecom
Samsung Electronics is strengthening its role in Korea’s next generation of intelligent connectivity after signing contracts with KT and SK Telecom for AI Radio Access Network (AI RAN) projects under the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT’s (MSIT) “Hyper AI Network” initiative.
Under the agreements, Samsung will serve as the sole global vendor for KT and the main vendor for SK Telecom, making it the only partner selected to participate in both projects. The collaborations build on Samsung’s long-standing relationships with Korea’s leading telecommunications operators and its work in software-driven, AI-native network technologies.
The projects are scheduled to begin in October 2026 and will deploy 5G Standalone (SA) private networks in demanding industrial environments, including shipyards and petrochemical facilities. The field deployments will provide an opportunity to validate AI RAN technologies in real-world conditions while generating insights that could support broader commercial deployments.
As part of the Korean government’s Hyper AI Network initiative, the projects bring together telecommunications operators, network solution providers and other industry partners. Their shared objective is to accelerate the practical adoption of emerging technologies such as AI RAN, physical AI and autonomous operations, while establishing technological foundations for the eventual transition toward 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 and Head of R&D, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics.
Moon added that as AI progresses toward embodied intelligence, networks will increasingly become platforms connecting intelligent machines, including humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles. Bringing AI RAN and physical AI together in real industrial environments, he said, represents an important step toward that future.
AI-Powered Robotics at a Shipyard
One of the major deployments will take place at the Yeongam Shipyard of HD Hyundai Samho, a prominent global shipbuilder. KT will conduct field trials involving several physical AI applications, including welding and painting robots used in manufacturing environments as well as autonomous robots designed to support telecommunications facility operations.
For an AI-powered quadruped welding robot use case, Samsung will provide KT with its software-driven, AI-native solutions, including Network in a Server (NIS) and Samsung CognitiV Network Operations Suite (NOS).
NIS is an integrated edge AI platform that combines virtualized RAN (vRAN), an AI Core and AI applications. CognitiV NOS, meanwhile, provides intelligent network automation capabilities. Together with 5G connectivity, these technologies enable the quadruped robot to perceive its surroundings and carry out precision welding tasks autonomously.
The deployment highlights the demanding connectivity requirements associated with physical AI. Industrial robots performing real-time operations require ultra-low latency, high reliability and consistent throughput to maintain precise control and respond quickly to changing conditions.
Samsung’s NIS architecture is designed for on-premise deployment and local processing, bringing network and AI capabilities closer to the point where data is generated and decisions need to be made. The platform runs vRAN and 5G SA core software on a commercial off-the-shelf Compact Edge Server from Supermicro, powered by an AMD EPYC™ 8004 Server CPU and running Wind River Cloud Platform.
Its software-driven architecture also allows the system to scale according to individual site requirements. Accelerated GPU computing can be incorporated when additional processing power is needed, providing flexibility for different industrial AI workloads.
“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 at 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,” Lee added.
AI-Enabled Safety at Petrochemical Facilities
Samsung’s second major collaboration will be with SK Telecom at SK Incheon Petrochem, a major energy hub serving the Seoul metropolitan area. The project will focus on physical AI applications designed to improve safety, monitoring and operational efficiency in a complex petrochemical environment.
Among the planned applications is an autonomous patrol robot capable of operating in hazardous areas. The robot will transmit high-definition video in real time while moving through the facility, allowing AI systems to analyze the footage and identify potential hazards.
The project will also explore CCTV-based monitoring and other AI-enabled capabilities. By combining real-time connectivity, autonomous robotics and AI analysis, SK Telecom and Samsung will investigate how AI-native networks can support more effective monitoring and safer operations in industrial environments where continuous oversight is essential.
Samsung is providing its AI-native NIS solution for the SK Telecom project. The companies will examine how AI-native connectivity can support complex chemical processes that require rigorous monitoring, rapid response 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.
Yu added that SK Telecom will draw on its AI expertise while working with Samsung to validate physical AI services in real-world environments and advance AI RAN as an important technology supporting the government’s Hyper AI Network initiative and its AI Highway agenda.
Building the Foundation for AI-Native Networks
Samsung’s involvement in both projects reflects its broader efforts to develop AI-native network technologies capable of supporting increasingly intelligent services. Its AI RAN solutions provide capabilities such as anomaly detection, throughput enhancement and energy-efficiency improvements, with these functions already being validated on live networks around the world.
The company is continuing to work with telecommunications operators and technology partners to expand the real-world deployment of AI-native and 6G-ready networks. The objective is not simply to add AI capabilities to existing infrastructure, but to create networks that can dynamically support emerging AI workloads and services.
This approach becomes particularly important as physical AI moves from experimental environments into industrial applications. Robots, autonomous machines and intelligent monitoring systems depend on networks that can deliver reliable connectivity while processing data close to where it is generated.
Samsung’s work with KT and SK Telecom therefore provides an opportunity to examine how AI RAN and physical AI can operate together under real industrial conditions. Lessons from shipbuilding and petrochemical facilities could help inform future deployments across other sectors where autonomous systems and AI-powered operations require dependable, intelligent connectivity.
Advancing From 5G to 6G
Samsung Networks has developed a broad portfolio of end-to-end 5G technologies, spanning chipsets, radios and core solutions. The company has continued to invest in technologies including purpose-built RAN, virtualized RAN, Open RAN, AI RAN, cloud-native AI Core and private networks.
Its AI-powered automation capabilities, including CognitiV NOS, are also designed to help operators manage increasingly complex network environments through intelligent automation.
As Korea advances its Hyper AI Network initiative, the KT and SK Telecom projects provide Samsung with two distinct industrial environments in which to demonstrate the potential of AI-native connectivity. One focuses on robotic manufacturing at a shipyard, while the other explores autonomous monitoring and safety at a petrochemical facility.
Together, the deployments illustrate how the convergence of AI, networks and autonomous machines is moving from research and development into practical industrial applications. They also underscore the growing importance of flexible, software-driven infrastructure as operators prepare for future network architectures.
With its participation in both projects, Samsung is continuing to develop and validate the technologies that could help shape the evolution from advanced 5G networks toward AI-native 6G connectivity, while supporting the expansion of AI-driven services across industrial environments and global markets.
Source Link: https://news.samsung.com/