Samsung and KT just took a massive step toward the future of mobile internet. On Thursday, the two technology giants announced that their new 6G artificial intelligence radio access network (AI-RAN) runs smoothly on a live commercial network. This successful trial confirms that the technology works in the real world, advancing the project beyond the theoretical computer simulations the teams completed back in June.
Samsung Research and KT’s Future Network Laboratory ran the comprehensive test in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. They specifically chose this location to expose the technology to varying environmental conditions and signal challenges. Instead of running a closed experiment, they deployed the system to cover approximately 18,000 actual users. This marks the first time anyone has successfully demonstrated this specific type of 6G technology on a live network with real traffic rather than in a controlled lab environment.
The technology fundamentally changes how the network manages connections. In simple terms, the system uses artificial intelligence to constantly monitor the signal quality for every person connected to the tower. It automatically applies the best possible settings to each user in real time. If the AI predicts a connection drop or a lag spike, it adjusts the configuration instantly to keep the data flowing. For the average user, this means fewer dropped calls, smoother streaming, and faster loading times without them ever knowing the AI is working in the background.
Both companies emphasized that this kind of smart optimization is a necessity for the future. As the industry prepares to shift from 5G to the 6G era, experts expect global data usage to explode. Current network management styles will likely struggle to handle that massive surge in traffic, making AI assistance essential for keeping the internet stable.
Jeong Jin-guk, executive vice president of Samsung Research, highlighted the importance of this victory. He called it a “major milestone” that proves AI can genuinely improve the user experience on commercial networks right now. He stated that Samsung plans to continue its close collaboration with KT. Together, they aim to shape and validate the next generation of communication tools. While full-scale 6G implementation is still on the horizon, this test proves the foundational technology is already working on the streets of Korea.
