A man walks past a NTT DOCOMO shop in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by CHRISTOPHER JUE / EPA
Aug. 10 (Asia Today) — Samsung Electronics and Japanese mobile carrier NTT Docomo have successfully validated technology that uses artificial intelligence to optimize mobile network quality for individual users, the companies said Monday.
The technology is based on AI-powered radio access networks and analyzes individual service usage patterns and real-time wireless network conditions. It can predict deteriorating service quality and automatically apply network settings tailored to each user.
The development represents another step toward AI-centric communications networks capable of recognizing individual users’ circumstances and requirements and adjusting network resources accordingly.
Samsung said the AI technology can learn users’ travel routes and service usage patterns, detect signs of declining network quality in advance and select network settings such as the optimal frequency band before a connection problem occurs.
Conventional systems generally apply the same network configuration across users connected to a base station, potentially resulting in dropped connections or deteriorating performance in areas with weaker signals.
The new technology allows network configurations to be adjusted according to individual conditions.
Samsung and NTT Docomo have jointly conducted research covering AI-RAN development, data collection through drive tests on commercial Japanese networks and improvements to data measurement procedures.
Simulations conducted using data collected from NTT Docomo’s commercial network and a local 5G test network in January showed that the frequency of service throughput degradation fell from 13.1% to 7.2%.
The results demonstrated that AI could predict service degradation and optimize network settings for individual users, potentially improving customers’ actual service experience. NTT Docomo separately confirmed the successful validation Monday.
The companies also developed a process designed to reduce the network burden associated with operating AI-RAN systems.
Previous methods required large amounts of wireless environment data to be collected and processed together. The new approach selectively processes only the information needed to address a specific problem experienced by a user.
Samsung and NTT Docomo are also continuing cooperation on 6G standardization.
“This achievement demonstrates that AI can substantially improve the service experience of individual users,” said Jeong Jin-kook, head of the Next Generation Communications Research Center at Samsung Research. “We will continue working with NTT Docomo to advance and standardize AI-RAN technology and lead the development of user-centered future communications technologies.”
Masafumi Masuda, head of NTT Docomo’s 6G Tech Department, called the development “an important step toward realizing a user-centric communications experience.”
“We will continue improving AI-based technologies and service quality to deliver new value to customers,” Masuda said.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260810010002865
