#Japan #Tokyo #Samsung #KDDI #RSO

Samsung and KDDI's Successful AI-Powered 5G Speed Optimization Trial in Japan

Samsung Electronics, headquartered in South Korea, has recently announced a significant milestone achieved in collaboration with KDDI in Japan. The two companies successfully conducted a proof-of-concept test for radio network speed optimization utilizing Samsung’s proprietary AI solution known as RSO (RAN Speed Optimizer), within KDDI’s commercial 5G Standalone (SA) network. This trial spanned several months, taking place from late 2025, and provided compelling evidence of the efficacy of AI solutions in real-world network operations.

The tests were carried out in various urban, suburban, and rural areas across Tokyo and its surrounding regions, utilizing a 100MHz TDD frequency in the 3.7GHz band across hundreds of cells. With diverse traffic patterns and network environments, the AI models were robustly trained under actual conditions. As a result, during peak hours, Samsung’s RSO resulted in an average increase of 31% in 5G communication speeds across all tested areas, with urban regions experiencing a remarkable boost of up to 52%. This demonstrates the transformative potential of AI in facilitating more precise and adaptive network optimization in commercial settings.

Samsung’s RSO functions by optimizing network performance through unique parameter adjustments tailored to individual cells, marking a substantial progression from traditional cluster-level approaches that apply uniform settings. By employing an AI-based predictive model to automatically analyze site environment data, RSO recommends optimized parameters specific to each cell. As part of Samsung’s CognitiV Network Operations Suite (NOS), RSO is one of several AI solutions that enhance network capabilities in a sophisticated manner.

This proof-of-concept experiment also validated that the AI solution could automate adjustments according to fluctuations in diverse network environments, allowing telecommunications providers to significantly reduce manual operations and therefore improve cost efficiency. For end-users, this could result in faster, more reliable connections, enhancing experiences while streaming videos, browsing the web, or making calls.

Kazuhiro Kobayashi, the Executive Officer in charge of networks at KDDI Corporation, remarked on the success of the trial, stating, “By combining KDDI’s expertise in network technology with Samsung’s advanced technology, we confirmed that the long-standing challenge of individual tuning at the base station level can be effectively addressed through AI. We will continue to promote technology development utilizing AI to provide our customers with a more comfortable network experience.”

June Moon, Vice President and Head of Network Business Development Team at Samsung Electronics, added, “Samsung is committed to supporting telecommunications operators like KDDI as they integrate the latest AI technologies to build intelligent and efficient networks. Since 2024, we have actively engaged in RSO trials and AI model education, achieving groundbreaking advancements. This collaboration with KDDI illustrates how our AI-enabled technology can provide sophisticated optimization in various network environments, ensuring stable and seamless connectivity.”

Looking ahead, Samsung and KDDI intend to further expand AI capabilities within commercial networks. The long-standing collaboration between the two firms in fully virtualized network deployments is set to accelerate KDDI’s progress toward AI-native network operations.

Samsung has been a pioneer in delivering end-to-end 5G solutions, including chipsets, radio, and core networks. Through continuous research and development, they push the evolution of 5G networks while paving the way for 6G and beyond. Their diverse range of products and technologies, including dedicated RAN (Radio Access Network), vRAN (Virtual RAN), Open RAN, AI-RAN, cloud-native cores, private network solutions, and AI-powered automation tools, positions Samsung as a provider of innovative network solutions, connecting billions of users globally across seamless networks.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Samsung and KDDI signifies a promising future for AI-enhanced telecommunications, potentially transforming user experiences and operational efficiencies in the rapidly evolving landscape of mobile communications.