Samsung Electronics and KDDI Research, Inc., the R&D institute of Japanese telecommunications service provider KDDI, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last month for joint research into the application of AI in next-generation mobile communication networks.
As 6G standardization gains momentum with AI technology expanding across industries, the two companies aim to enhance overall network performance by applying AI to multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technologies. MIMO systems increase transmission speed and expand coverage by utilizing multiple antennas to transmit and receive signals. In contrast to traditional MIMO systems that transfer data in a single-cell network, distributed MIMO (D-MIMO) systems deploy multiple cells to offer advantages such as improved performance in coverage boundary areas and the network overall.
Through this collaboration, the companies will research AI-driven solutions to optimize the design and operation of D-MIMO systems — enabling higher transmission speeds at the user level and increased network-wide capacity.
▲ D-MIMO systems
“The joint research with KDDI Research will play an integral role in innovating wireless telecommunications through the convergence of telecommunications and AI technologies,” said Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun, CTO of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics and Head of Samsung Research. “We will lead the next-generation communication research that brings improvements to user experience.”
“I anticipate that our research collaboration will highlight the critical role of AI and D-MIMO in developing a user-centric network that delivers exceptional wireless quality across the target area, ultimately creating new value in 6G,” said Hajime Nakamura, President and CEO of KDDI Research, Inc.
Industry alliances, including the AI-RAN Alliance1 and the Next G Alliance (NGA),2 are pivotal to driving Samsung’s research on integrating AI into communication technologies. In November 2024, Samsung hosted the Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit to encourage greater collaboration in the industry. Beyond these partnerships and initiatives, the company released a 6G white paper last month outlining its vision for AI-native and sustainable communication technologies.
Source: https://news.samsung.com/
