Samsung to fuel Korean robot ambitions as exclusive AI network provider

Samsung Electronics was named the exclusive AI network vendor for South Korea's Hyper AI Network initiative, deploying 5G standalone private networks for KT and SK Telecom to validate AI RAN capabilities. For KT, Samsung will supply its AI-centric network in a server (NIS) based on virtual RAN to shipbuilder HD Hyundai Samho to support AI-powered welding robots, while for SK Telecom the same NIS solution will support autonomous patrol robots at SK Incheon Petrochem. The initiative, launched by South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency, is part of the country's 10-year AI Highway agenda to prepare infrastructure for mass-market humanoid robot integration and a transition to 6G AI-native standards.

Samsung Electronics became the exclusive vendor for Korea’s telecom giants as the country ramps up its AI radio access network RAN and physical AI efforts. The Korean vendor is the sole partner selected across both operator-led projects within the government’s Hyper AI Network initiative https://www.sdxcentral.com/news/sk-telecom-to-test-ai-ran-physical-ai-for-south-korea-build-out/ , where it will deploy 5G standalone 5G SA private networks for KT and SK Telecom to validate AI RAN capabilities . For KT, Samsung will provide end-to-end network solutions based on virtual RAN vRAN via its AI-centric network in a server NIS , to shipbuilder HD Hyundai Samho. Here it delivers the network foundation for physical AI in the form of AI-powered welding robots, with 5G connectivity and on-board edge AI platform helping quadruped robots to autonomously perceive their working environment and perform precise welding. Samsung touted its AI-native network in a server NIS solution as providing the ultra-low latency, high reliability, and consistent throughput critical for real-time robotic control. Designed for local processing and on-premise deployment, Samsung’s NIS runs vRAN and 5G SA core software on a Compact Edge Server from Supermicro powered by the AMD EPY 8004 Server CPU and running the Wind River Cloud Platform. The software-defined architecture was touted for its flexible scaling, and ability to incorporate accelerated GPU compute to meet site-specific requirements as needed. “KT views this project as an important starting point for validating the next-generation communications paradigm where AI and networks converge,” Jongsik Lee, executive vice president at KT, said. “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.” Similarly on the SK Telecom SKT side, Samsung will provide its NIS solution based on vRAN to support autonomous patrol robots operating at SK Incheon Petrochem, a petrochemical facility owned by the operator’s SK parent group. The project was first hinted at in July https://www.sdxcentral.com/news/sk-telecom-to-test-ai-ran-physical-ai-for-south-korea-build-out/ , back when Samsung’s role appeared to be as one of various providers working on the Hyper-AI Network Infrastructure pilot project. The robot, which patrols hazardous areas and uses CCTV-based monitoring, transfers high-definition videos in real time while in transit, using inference-based analysis to detect possible hazards and facilitate integrated monitoring. Together, Samsung and Incheon Petrochem aim to explore the potential of AI-native connectivity in enhancing safety and efficiency in petrochemical environments. “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. “Drawing on our AI expertise, we will work with Samsung to validate physical AI services in real-world environments and advance AI RAN as a key technology underpinning the government’s Hyper AI Network initiative.” That initiative forms part of Korea’s 10-year AI Highway agenda, which aims to see the country join the U.S. and China in becoming one of the world’s top AI superpowers. The Hyper AI Network venture is a key component of the project, as launched by South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT MSIT and the National Information Society Agency NIA . Its core aim is to prepare infrastructure for mass-market humanoid robot integration, as well as to transition domestic networks toward 6G AI-native standards, with Samsung framing its 5G work with KT and SKT as laying the groundwork for the 6G transition.