Samsung Electronics and SoftBank have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop next-generation telecommunications technologies, including AI-based radio access networks (AI-RAN) and 6G connectivity. The partnership marks a significant step toward the convergence of artificial intelligence and telecommunications infrastructure, with both companies seeking to pioneer networks that are faster, more intelligent, and energy-efficient.
Under the agreement, the two companies will focus on four areas: 6G, AI for RAN, AI and RAN integration, and Large Telecom Models (LTM). Their joint efforts will include developing new use cases, testing advanced algorithms, and demonstrating how generative AI can optimise user experiences and automate network management in real-world conditions.
The Role of AI in Network Evolution
AI-RAN technologies represent a major shift in how future networks will operate — transforming them from static infrastructures into adaptive, self-optimising systems. By combining machine learning models with radio networks, operators can dynamically allocate bandwidth, predict congestion, and adjust performance in real time.
Through this collaboration, Samsung’s Advanced Communications Research Centre (ACRC) will work closely with SoftBank’s R&D teams to test AI-based orchestration tools capable of integrating workloads between AI data centres and telecom base stations. This fusion is expected to lay the groundwork for hyper-connected environments that support immersive experiences, smart mobility, and industrial automation.
Industry Outlook and Global Standards
The Samsung–SoftBank partnership comes at a time when global discussions on 6G standardisation are intensifying, particularly around the potential use of higher-frequency bands such as the 7GHz spectrum. Samsung, which has been at the forefront of 6G R&D through its global research hubs, aims to demonstrate early prototypes and architectures at the upcoming Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit in November 2025.
For SoftBank, the collaboration strengthens its ambition to shape telecommunications as part of the broader AI economy. Hideyuki Tsukuda, Executive Vice President and CTO at SoftBank, stated that the initiative aligns with the company’s vision of creating networks that “are more efficient, highly reliable, and essential for a future where AI and humans coexist.”
Building the Foundation for 6G Commercialisation
Both Samsung and SoftBank view this alliance as a catalyst for advancing the 6G innovation roadmap, which is projected to reach early commercial deployment by the early 2030s. The integration of generative AI within telecom systems could significantly reduce operational complexity and enable personalised, context-aware connectivity across industries.
As nations invest heavily in AI infrastructure, cloud ecosystems, and low-latency edge networks, collaborations like this underline how next-generation communications will evolve — not just as faster pipelines, but as intelligent ecosystems that learn, adapt, and optimise themselves.
