Editorial illustration for Samsung and SoftBank Team Up to Develop AI-Powered 6G Network Technologies
Samsung and SoftBank Forge AI-Driven 6G Network Future
Samsung and SoftBank sign MoU to explore AI-driven 6G radio access networks
Telecoms love to talk about AI. Most of it is hot air. But a new deal between Samsung and SoftBank might just mean something.
They've inked a pact to fundamentally rethink how a wireless network is built—using artificial intelligence as the blueprint. The target is the radio access network, that crucial physical layer connecting your phone to everything, and the goal is a 6G standard that remains, for now, a specter on the horizon.
Forget vague promises. Their memorandum outlines a structured, four-pillar plan for co-development. This is a push to move from conference-room slideshows to tangible, testable hardware.
Samsung Electronics and SoftBank have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore next-generation telecommunications technologies, including 6G and AI-based radio access networks (AI-RAN). The aim is to develop advanced communication solutions and wireless networks. Under the agreement, the two companies will focus on four key areas: 6G, AI for RAN, AI and RAN, and Large Telecom Models (LTM).
The collaboration will involve identifying new use cases, co-developing core technologies, and demonstrating their effectiveness in real-world scenarios. AI-RAN technologies are expected to optimise network performance, while AI and RAN orchestration solutions will integrate AI workloads with base-station operations to improve efficiency. The use of generative AI within communications networks is also being explored as part of the initiative.
“Through this collaboration with SoftBank, we aim to define meaningful use cases for both operators and end users while securing key technologies for future commercialisation,” JinGuk Jeong, executive vice president and head of Advanced Communications Research Centre (ACRC) at Samsung Research, said in a statement. Hideyuki Tsukuda, executive vice president and CTO of SoftBank, added, “By combining our advanced expertise with Samsung, we will accelerate the realisation of next-generation networks that are more efficient and highly reliable. SoftBank remains committed to building the social infrastructure needed for a future where AI and humans coexist.” The move comes amid growing global discussions on 6G standardisation, including the potential use of new frequency bands such as the 7GHz spectrum.
The executives trotted out the expected platitudes. Ignore those. Look at the technical goals.
They reveal an ambition to position AI not as a mere efficiency tool, but as a core architectural principle. A term like "Large Telecom Models" suggests a future where the network itself is a generative, adaptive system.
This is a serious capital allocation. It’s a bet that the fundamental problems of 6G—managing insane data loads across tricky new bands like 7GHz—simply cannot be cracked with legacy engineering. The partnership is a stark marker of where major money is flowing in these quiet, pre-standardization years.
The proof won't be in another research paper. It will be in a working prototype that does something previous generations could not.
Further Reading
- Samsung and SoftBank sign MoU on AI-RAN for 6G - RCR Wireless News
- AI RAN in 2026: What lies ahead? - Fierce Network
- Can AI-RAN succeed without open RAN? 'Yes and no', says Alliance chair Choi - TelecomTV
- Is AI the key to open RAN success? - SDxCentral
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Common Questions Answered
What are the four key technology areas Samsung and SoftBank will focus on in their 6G collaboration?
Samsung and SoftBank will focus on 6G, AI for Radio Access Networks (AI-RAN), AI and RAN, and Large Telecom Models (LTM). These four domains represent their strategic approach to developing next-generation telecommunications technologies with advanced AI integration.
How does the Samsung-SoftBank partnership aim to advance wireless network technologies?
The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly explore and develop advanced communication solutions using AI-powered technologies. Their collaboration will involve identifying new use cases and co-developing core technologies for future 6G wireless networks.
Why are Samsung and SoftBank investing in AI-based radio access networks (AI-RAN)?
AI-RAN represents a critical evolution in telecommunications infrastructure, allowing for more intelligent and adaptive wireless networks. By integrating artificial intelligence into radio access networks, the companies aim to create more efficient, responsive, and advanced communication technologies for the future.
Further Reading
- Samsung Teams with SoftBank on 6G and AI-RAN Networks — TechBuzz
- Samsung Electronics and SoftBank Corp. To Collaborate on AI-RAN Technologies for Next-Generation Telecommunications — Samsung Newsroom
- Samsung Electronics, SoftBank ink AI-RAN collaboration — RCR Wireless News
- SoftBank Corp. and Samsung Electronics Sign MoU to Collaborate in the Field of AI-RAN — SoftBank Press Release
- SoftBank and Samsung team up to develop AI-powered 6G networks — SDxCentral
