- Samsung reports it has completed the first commercial call using its virtualized RAN software on a live network operated by a Tier 1 U.S. carrier
- The system operated on Intel Xeon 6700P-B processors, combining a standard off‑the‑shelf server with a Wind River cloud platform
- The pitch: move more network functions onto a smaller number of servers to reduce power consumption, lower costs, and gear up for AI-driven, “6G-ready” enhancements
Samsung has announced it completed what it calls the first commercial call on a live network using its virtualized radio access network (vRAN) software powered by Intel’s Xeon 6700P‑B processors. The test involved a single-server setup deployed on a Tier 1 U.S. operator’s network, following a 2024 lab achievement. Samsung highlighted features of the Intel Xeon 6 platform, including up to 72 cores, Intel AMX, and Intel vRAN Boost.
This matters now as mobile operators aim to transform segments of the cellular network into software-driven systems rather than relying on fixed-function hardware, all while managing power costs, limited site resources, and the gradual rollout of 5G.
Competition and timing lie beneath the surface. As “AI-native” networks become the next big marketing push, carriers aim for infrastructure that resembles cloud computing: standardized servers, easy software updates, and hardware refreshes that avoid tearing apart tower setups.
vRAN is the term catching attention. Simply put, it means the “brains” of a cell site—the baseband processing that powers radio access—can run as software on standard servers, rather than being tied to specialized telecom hardware.
Samsung’s main goal is to show that more RAN functions can run reliably on a single, more powerful server. This means less equipment on-site, fewer components to upkeep, and extra capacity to handle optimization software alongside the radio tasks.
This also reflects a bold architectural bet on the future of networks: increased automation, real-time adjustments, and more processing power at the edge. AI in networks isn’t just about chatbots — it frequently involves models predicting congestion, fine-tuning radio settings, or maximizing efficiency within tight spectrum constraints.
Computer Weekly highlighted the milestone as a step toward consolidation: fewer, more powerful servers handling both RAN and AI tasks, promising savings in space, power, and overall costs. Analyst Daryl Schoolar called the demo “an important milestone.” Samsung’s networks R&D lead June Moon labeled it a “major leap forward,” while Intel’s Cristina Rodriguez described it as laying a “compute foundation for AI-native, future-ready networks.” Computer Weekly
It’s important to highlight that the operator remains unnamed. This is typical for initial network tests, yet it leaves outsiders unable to assess how well the deployment reflects various spectrum bands, traffic conditions, or vendor ecosystems.
Buried in all this is a bigger platform shift. As RAN software increasingly runs on standardized compute, the fight moves beyond traditional telecom hardware. Now it stretches into cloud platforms, silicon acceleration, and the complex integration required to deliver “carrier-grade” reliability as a standard expectation.
Samsung circulated the milestone via its press channels, posting a media library entry on January 14, 2026, that restates the key claim: a commercial call made using Samsung vRAN paired with Intel Xeon 6700P‑B on a Tier 1 U.S. live network.
“Single-server vRAN” might look straightforward on paper, but real-world deployments tell a different story. Networks deal with chaotic RF conditions, multiple upgrade layers, and operations teams that won’t tolerate any stability drops just for the sake of efficiency gains. Beyond technical feasibility, carriers will only jump on board if the cost benefits clearly outweigh sticking with tried-and-true, specialized RAN hardware.
The industry is clearly steering toward software-defined networks, open architectures, and pushing more compute power to the edge where radio connects with the cloud. If Samsung continues to deliver live-network proof points instead of just lab demos, single-server vRAN begins to feel less theoretical and more like a real upgrade option.
