Major Mobile Network Milestone Achieved by Samsung for AI and 6G

A major milestone in mobile network virtualization has been achieved, with Samsung Electronics successfully completing the industry’s first commercial live-network call using a single-server, software-based radio access network. The demonstration took place on a Tier-1 U.S. mobile operator’s live network and was powered by Intel’s latest Xeon 6 system-on-chip platform.

Unlike traditional radio access networks that rely on multiple dedicated hardware systems, Samsung’s cloud-native vRAN architecture allows core network functions such as radio access, transport, security, and AI workloads to run together on a single commercial off-the-shelf server. The deployment used Intel’s Xeon 6 processor along with enterprise infrastructure provided by HPE and Wind River.

The achievement validates that software-driven mobile networks are now ready for real-world, large-scale deployment, not just laboratory testing. By consolidating network functions onto fewer, more powerful servers, operators can significantly reduce energy consumption, capital expenditure (CAPEX), and operational costs (OPEX) while simplifying network management.

This shift toward centralized, software-based infrastructure improves automation, scalability, and security control, allowing operators to apply consistent policies, updates, and AI-driven optimization across the network.

Samsung says the milestone supports the industry’s transition toward AI-native networks and lays critical groundwork for future 6G services, where flexibility, low latency, and intelligent automation will be essential. The use of Intel’s Xeon 6 SoC chip, which includes built-in acceleration for AI and virtualized RAN workloads, further enhances performance and efficiency compared to previous generations.

As global operators continue moving away from proprietary hardware toward cloud-native architectures, this development signals a broader industry shift. It shows that next-generation mobile networks can be more efficient, more secure, and more adaptable, while remaining capable of meeting the strict reliability demands of commercial telecom environments.