6G ISAC push unites South Korean rivals Samsung, LG Uplus in standards race

Samsung Electronics and LG Uplus have initiated joint research on Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), a technology designated by the ITU-R as a key 6G scenario. The collaboration aims to use telecom networks for environmental sensing, seeking to influence global 6G standards and unlock new enterprise service revenue.

Samsung Electronics and LG Uplus signed a memorandum of understanding at LG Science Park in Seoul on May 27 to jointly research Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) technology, according to a joint announcement. Samsung Research, the advanced R&D arm of Samsung’s Device eXperience Division, will lead core ISAC and AI-driven 6G development, while LG Uplus, a South Korean telecom operator and LG Corp subsidiary, will supply field-testing infrastructure and network operations data for validation.

ISAC repurposes wireless communication signals such as those from 5G base stations and Wi-Fi, to detect the speed, location, and direction of objects by analyzing reflections, eliminating dedicated sensors. The International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) has classified ISAC as one of three essential 6G usage scenarios. The partners plan to verify performance on existing 5G networks and the 7 GHz band, a candidate 6G frequency, focusing first on human detection for safety and network operational efficiency, and later combining wireless data with camera imagery through multimodal AI.

The collaboration unites two domestic competitors at a critical juncture for global 6G standard-setting. By combining Samsung’s R&D scale with LG Uplus’s operational telecom expertise, the alliance could shape ISAC protocols under discussion at ITU-R, impacting equipment makers and network operators worldwide. For LG Uplus, sensing-enabled network services present a route to enterprise markets in manufacturing, logistics, and public safety, diversifying revenue beyond connectivity. Samsung, building on a prior 6G white paper and technology demonstrations at global summits, enhances its end-to-end 6G portfolio, positioning chipsets and network solutions.

From a market perspective, the initiative signals that network-as-a-sensor business models are gaining commercial traction. Successful field trials in the 7 GHz band may accelerate spectrum allocation decisions and create intellectual property advantages. The partnership offers an early benchmark for how telecom operators can monetize infrastructure assets in the 6G era.