Samsung and Verizon have tested network sensing without waiting for 6G. Their Dallas trial used 5G technology to monitor crowd movement at a football match.
The trial focused on ISAC, or integrated sensing and communication. In simple terms, ISAC lets networks communicate and sense surroundings. The concept often appears in 6G defense scenarios, especially drone detection.
However, Samsung and Verizon showed a more practical civilian use case. Their setup created heatmaps that tracked people as moving dots. Venue operators could use this data for safety, crowd control, and service planning.
The trial used existing network components. Samsung supplied a CBRS radio using 40MHz of spectrum. Verizon hosted the equipment on a mobile cell site. Samsung also used its virtual core and virtual RAN products.
This matters because ISAC often appears as a flagship 6G feature. Samsung now argues that today’s technology already provides key foundations. Yet the company still sees value in future standardization.
“The key difference with 6G is that sensing can be designed as a native network capability, allowing communications and sensing to be jointly optimized from the outset,” said a representative by email.
That position gives operators a balanced path. They can test sensing now, using familiar 5G systems. Later, 6G could make these tools interoperable, scalable, and easier to deploy.
The bigger debate centers on waveform technology. Samsung supports OFDM, the radio method used in 4G and 5G. It has a mature ecosystem and fits current infrastructure.
Some rivals favor OTFS, a method linked more closely with radar concepts. Supporters say it handles motion better and improves sensing accuracy. That could matter for fast targets, including drones.
Samsung does not reject OTFS outright. Still, it questions whether ISAC needs such a major shift. “OFDM already provides strong sensing capabilities, while offering a mature ecosystem and compatibility with existing infrastructure.”
Ericsson appears to share that view. “If we have well-performing ISAC trials and concepts that are working today, would we need a new waveform?” said Marie Hogan, Ericsson’s head of 6G portfolio strategy. “We don’t think so.”
Meanwhile, Cohere Technologies continues to promote OTFS for 6G. The company claims better accuracy under similar spectrum conditions. It also secured a $28 million contract with the US Department of Defense.
Tom Rondeau of the DoD has backed further OTFS research. “Ericsson and Nokia have both shown me their ability to do ISAC sensing of drones with OFDM, but it’s not a natural fit,” he said. “The OFDM waveform is not optimal for sensing.”
The Dallas trial does not settle the issue. It does show that network sensing has near-term value. For operators, the question is now less about possibility. It is about timing, cost, and which standard wins.
