LG Uplus signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung Electronics to cooperate on research and development of telecoms and sensing convergence technologies. Under the agreement, the companies will jointly study telecoms and sensing convergence technologies and AI-linked 6G technologies. They will also verify applicability in real communications environments and the effectiveness of the technologies.

LG Uplus said on May 29 the agreement aims to validate research-stage technologies in real communications networks ahead of the 6G era and to lay groundwork for commercial technologies and services.

Sensing technology using mobile base stations and telecoms and sensing convergence technologies are key technologies that could expand the scope of future network use. Last year, LG Uplus published a 6G white paper and suggested that integrated sensing and communications, or ISAC, which uses communications infrastructure like a sensor to recognise surrounding environments, could become a core element of 6G.

LG Uplus will use its network operating experience as a telecoms operator and its test environment to verify whether research outcomes can be applied to real communications networks. Samsung Research, an advanced research unit under Samsung Electronics' DX division, will focus on improving the effectiveness and completeness of the research technologies through the partnership. It will check the applicability of telecoms and sensing convergence technologies and AI-linked 6G technologies by reflecting telecoms operators' network operating environments and requirements.

Lee Sang-yeop (이상엽), an executive vice president at LG Uplus, said, "In the 6G era, it is important how effectively research technologies are implemented in real communications networks." He added, "Working with Samsung Research, we will demonstrate and verify the technologies from a telecoms operator's perspective and secure competitiveness in future communications technologies."

Jung Jin-kook (정진국), head of the Advanced Communications Research Center at Samsung Research, said, "Working with LG Uplus, we will verify the possibilities of 6G services in various real environments and lead efforts to secure core technologies."