[DigitalToday reporter Jin-ho Lee] The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) will introduce key research results at MWC 2026, which will be held in Barcelona, Spain on March 2.

ETRI said on Wednesday it will showcase six core ICT research results at this year's MWC: an artificial intelligence (AI)-based 6G core network, AI-native 6G wireless transmission technology, next-generation low Earth orbit satellite communications, intelligent transparent RIS, AI-enabled base station technology, and real-and-virtual convergence technology.

Its "intelligent service programmable mobile core network" technology is seen as key infrastructure for the 6G era. The goal is to implement an "autonomous 6G core network" in which AI learns and controls the network on its own. The research team stressed it improved session processing efficiency by 40 percent versus existing technology, laying the groundwork for innovation in 6G core infrastructure.

It will also introduce an "extremely massive multiple-input multiple-output transceiver (E-MIMO) system" that densely integrates about 1,000 antenna elements. It reuses existing 3.5 GHz base station sites used for 5G and supports capacity 10 times higher than 5G in the 7 GHz band.

In the AI-enabled base station field, it will present a "neural receiver" in which AI analyses radio signals in real time to correct signal distortion or noise. It will also unveil AI-based low-power Open RAN technology that installs AI modules inside base stations to predict traffic.

It will also disclose "intelligent transparent RIS" technology that can be attached to windows or walls. RIS is a technology that freely controls the direction in which radio waves are reflected, transmitted or absorbed by placing small metamaterial-based structures on a surface. ETRI stressed it controls reflection and refraction of radio waves while maintaining visible light transmittance, without harming a building's exterior appearance.

It will also unveil next-generation satellite communications technology that links terrestrial networks with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and ultra-realistic virtual reality (VR) technology that connects real space and virtual environments in real time. ETRI said it plans to expand global cooperation and technology exchanges through MWC 2026.

ETRI President Seung-chan Bang (방승찬) said MWC 2026 is an important stage to show the world the next-generation communications technology capabilities of its research team. He said ETRI will lead future networks and digital innovation through continued research and development and global cooperation.