Samsung executive chairman emphasizes 'unwavering' 6G focus

Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong visits Samsung Research center at southern Seoul in 2021 to inspect development over 6G networks. [Samsung Electronics]

Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong emphasized "unwavering" investment in next-generation telecommunication technology including 6G during his visit to the Samsung Research Center at Woomyeon-dong, southern Seoul, on Wednesday.

It was Lee’s first public comments this year.

Samsung Research oversees the development of next-generation telecommunications technology, AI robots and health care.

Telecommunication technology has been one of the main future growth engines for the electronics maker. Lee personally oversaw the formation of an organization dedicated to 5G when the company started developing 5G technology in 2011.

Samsung Research formed a unit dedicated to 6G in 2019. In 2022, it held its first 6G forum.

As he made the visit to inspect the center's progress on 6G research and development, Lee called for the center to challenge itself in securing new technologies such as 6G networks, as the development will be critical for the commercialization of innovative products in AI, autonomous driving and extended reality in people’s daily lives.

“Procuring the new technologies is essential for the company’s survival and its future,” Lee said. “The need for unwavering research, development and investment into new technologies is crucial, especially during times of difficulty” such as global economic slowdown, acceleration of industrial restructuring and unstable global geopolitical landscape.

Academics forecast standardization work on 6G to start in 2025 and commercialized sometime in 2030.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]