Samsung has partnered with Verizon to demonstrate how existing 5G network infrastructure can support 6G technologies.
Completing an Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) trial at an international football event in Dallas, Texas, the technology giants used wireless signals to track how people were moving around the venue and identify crowded areas in near real time.
During the trial, Samsung combined its AI-powered vRAN and vCore with an ISAC application on its Network in a Server (NIS) platform. This allowed the technology to run over the existing 5G network without requiring additional equipment.
Additionally, a CBRS radio unit mounted on a Verizon Cell-On-Wheels (COW) picked up changes in wireless signals from a commercial 5G device, allowing Samsung’s NIS platform to process the data in real time, creating a crowd-density heat-map showing how people were moving around the venue.
The system could help organisers keep track of crowd levels, help visitors find less busy areas and give security teams an early warning of potential overcrowding, the technology giant revealed.
Verizon Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Technology Development, Yago Tenorio, said: “Verizon’s strategy has always been focused on building an intelligent, AI-native network that translates into meaningful real-world value for our customers.
“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.”
Samsung Executive Vice President and Head of Product Strategy of Networks Business, Ji-Yun Seol, added: “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.
“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.”
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