Samsung and Verizon have jointly showcased the feasibility of deploying 6G sensing technologies atop current 5G networks. At an international football event in Dallas, Texas, the pair conducted a trial of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), leveraging wireless signals to monitor visitor movement patterns and pinpoint congested zones with minimal latency.
The demonstration integrated Samsung's AI-driven vRAN and vCore with an ISAC application running on its Network in a Server (NIS) platform. The setup operated across Verizon's existing 5G infrastructure without demanding any new hardware installations.
A CBRS radio unit affixed to a Verizon Cell-On-Wheels (COW) detected fluctuations in wireless signals transmitted from a standard 5G handset. Samsung's NIS platform then processed this information instantaneously, generating a crowd-density heat-map that visualised visitor distribution throughout the venue.
The capability could serve multiple purposes: enabling event organisers to maintain awareness of crowd concentrations, directing attendees toward less populated zones, and equipping security personnel with advance notice of potential overcrowding situations.
Yago Tenorio, Verizon's Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Technology Development, stated: "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."
Ji-Yun Seol, Samsung Executive Vice President and Head of Product Strategy of Networks Business, remarked: "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."
