Samsung Electronics and SoftBank Corp. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on October 24, 2025, to jointly research next-generation communications technologies, including 6G and AI-based radio access network (AI-RAN) innovations. Samsung Global Newsroom
Key points:

• The collaboration targets development of AI-driven RAN solutions which can enable operators to dynamically optimize network resources, reduce latency, improve energy efficiency and support new use cases.

• It emphasises the strategic importance of AI integration in telecom infrastructure, as operators globally seek to transform from “connectivity providers” to “digital service platforms”.

• This partnership positions Samsung and SoftBank to capture early-mover advantage in 6G and AI-native network deployment, particularly in Asia where competition is intensifying.

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Why this matters for telecom equipment & investment

• Vendor opportunities: Equipment suppliers (e.g., radio units, baseband processors, AI-hardware) stand to benefit from increased R&D spend and new network deployment phases.

• Operator strategy: Carriers will likely accelerate network automation, private-network offers, and enterprise-grade 5G/6G services, expanding beyond traditional mobile subscriptions.

• Market trends: As AI becomes embedded in network infrastructure, metrics such as OPEX per bit, network utilisation, and energy consumption will take centre stage in investment decisions.

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