Samsung selected as exclusive AI network provider for South Korean robotics projects

Samsung Electronics has been selected as the exclusive vendor for projects involving South Korea’s major telecommunications operators as the country expands its work on AI radio access networks (AI RAN) and physical AI.

The Korean technology company is the sole partner for both operator-led projects under the government’s Hyper AI Network initiative. Samsung will deploy 5G standalone (5G SA) private networks for KT and SK Telecom to validate AI RAN capabilities.

KT project brings physical AI to shipbuilding

For KT, Samsung will provide end-to-end network solutions based on virtual RAN (vRAN) through its AI-native network in a server (NIS) platform. The system will be deployed at shipbuilder HD Hyundai Samho, where it will provide the network foundation for physical AI applications involving AI-powered welding robots.

The deployment combines 5G connectivity with an on-board edge AI platform. This will allow quadruped robots to perceive their working environment autonomously and carry out precise welding operations.

Samsung says its NIS solution is designed to provide the ultra-low latency, high reliability, and consistent throughput required for real-time robotic control. It is intended for local processing and on-premise deployment, running vRAN and 5G SA core software on a Compact Edge Server from Supermicro. The server is powered by the AMD EPY 8004 Server CPU and runs the Wind River Cloud Platform.

The software-defined architecture supports flexible scaling and can incorporate accelerated GPU computing when required by individual sites.

“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.”

SK Telecom applies AI connectivity to industrial safety

For SK Telecom (SKT), Samsung will provide its vRAN-based NIS solution to support autonomous patrol robots at SK Incheon Petrochem, a petrochemical facility owned by the operator’s SK parent group.

The robot patrols hazardous areas and uses CCTV-based monitoring. While moving through the facility, it transmits high-definition video in real time. Inference-based analysis identifies potential hazards and supports integrated monitoring of the site.

Samsung and Incheon Petrochem will use the project to examine how AI-native connectivity can improve safety and operational efficiency in petrochemical environments. Samsung’s involvement was first indicated in July, when it appeared to be one of several providers participating in the Hyper-AI Network Infrastructure pilot project.

“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.”

Part of South Korea’s AI infrastructure strategy

The Hyper AI Network initiative is part of South Korea’s ten-year AI Highway agenda. The broader plan aims to help the country join the United States and China among the world’s leading AI powers.

The initiative was launched by South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the National Information Society Agency (NIA). Its goals include preparing infrastructure for the widespread integration of humanoid robots and moving domestic networks toward AI-native 6G standards.

Samsung has positioned its 5G deployments with KT and SKT as groundwork for that transition to 6G.