Samsung and Keysight have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate research and development for 6G technology, marking a strategic step toward shaping the next generation of wireless connectivity.
Although 5G continues to expand and evolve, industry leaders are already preparing for what comes next. The MoU aims to bring together Samsung’s communications, software, and AI expertise with Keysight’s measurement and validation capabilities to drive foundational 6G research and commercialization.
Sunghyun Choi, Executive Vice President at Samsung Research, said:
“The signing of this MoU with Keysight will greatly advance Samsung’s 6G strategy of combining the company’s expertise in communication technology with capabilities in software and AI. Joining forces with Keysight enables Samsung to influence a future that uses 6G to improve human connection, health, and safety.”
6G is expected to integrate technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced sensing, digital twins, time-sensitive networking, and holographic communications to support new use cases and performance levels far beyond today’s networks.
The next-generation network is also envisioned to provide ubiquitous coverage—from undersea cables and ground networks up through airborne platforms and orbital satellites—within a Space‑Air‑Ground‑Sea Integrated Network (SAGSIN). Delivering that level of integration and reliability will require close collaboration across industry partners, research institutions, and equipment vendors, making partnerships like Samsung and Keysight’s essential.
An early priority for the collaboration will be accelerating AI-enabled air interface development that leverages massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna arrays. These air interfaces aim to enable ultra-dense network deployments with ultra-low latency and terabit-class wireless throughput, supporting demanding applications across consumer, enterprise, and industrial domains.
Giampaolo Tardioli, VP of Keysight’s network infrastructure business, commented:
“Keysight is pleased to expand its existing collaboration with Samsung, which has resulted in several important achievements towards establishing 5G new radio (NR) as a mature technology. 6G is expected to underpin the wireless connectivity fabric that leverages heterogeneous networks and the convergence of communication and computing. Establishing a 6G partnership with Samsung enables Keysight to refine our software-driven test solutions, critical in developing differentiated 6G products.”
Samsung and Keysight already maintain a long-standing relationship. For instance, Samsung used Keysight’s 5G network emulation solutions to demonstrate a data link based on 3GPP Release 16 specifications for 5G New Radio, showcasing how close collaboration can accelerate practical advances and validation for emerging standards.
Keysight offers a portfolio of technologies and tools that the company describes as foundational for 6G development, including network, channel, and user equipment emulation; millimeter-wave and sub-terahertz signal generation and analysis; and high-speed Ethernet network emulation and data center connectivity testing. Those capabilities help vendors and researchers validate complex systems and scale lab demonstrations toward real-world deployments.
As 5G deployments continue and attention progressively turns to 6G, industry partnerships that combine domain expertise, measurement proficiency, and software-driven testing will be critical to maturing technologies, defining standards, and delivering the next wave of wireless innovation. Samsung and Keysight’s MoU signals a commitment to that collaborative approach as the sector prepares for future connectivity demands.
(Photo by Art Lasovsky on Unsplash)
Interested in industry perspectives on 5G and emerging connectivity trends? Consider attending relevant expos and conferences focused on wireless, telecom, and enterprise networking to hear from leaders, see demonstrations, and learn about commercialization paths for next-generation technologies.