Samsung Electronics and Verizon have completed a field trial of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) at a major international soccer event in Dallas, Texas. The trial leveraged an existing 5G virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) and edge AI computing capabilities to detect crowd distribution in real time through wireless signals and generate near-real-time crowd density heat maps. The trial demonstrates the feasibility of moving ISAC from a 6G emerging technology concept toward practical real-world applications.

A key aspect of the trial was the ability to perform environmental sensing using an existing 5G network without deploying dedicated sensing equipment. Samsung integrated commercial AI-powered vRAN, virtualized Core (vCore), and ISAC applications into its Network in a Server (NIS) edge AI platform, consolidating network functions and accelerated computing capabilities within a single server.

During the trial, Verizon deployed a CBRS radio unit supporting 40 MHz of bandwidth on a Cell-on-Wheels (COW). The system detected changes in wireless signals caused by the movement of people and used the NIS platform to analyze signal characteristics in real time, generating crowd density heat maps that reflected patterns of movement and crowd concentration.

In the event venue, the ISAC system could identify areas with higher crowd concentrations and support a range of applications. For example, attendees could use the information to locate less crowded restaurants and service facilities. Event organizers could monitor crowd distribution and facility usage in real time to optimize staffing and resource allocation. Security and government agencies could also use the system to identify potential risks caused by excessive crowd concentration at an early stage, supporting crowd management and public safety.

Notably, the trial highlights the importance of virtualization and software-defined network architectures for enabling new 6G applications. Verizon has been advancing AI-powered vRAN deployments, using software-based network architectures to enable new network functions to be built directly on existing commercial networks. According to Samsung, the ISAC trial was conducted using existing 5G infrastructure, demonstrating that operators do not necessarily have to wait for commercial 6G networks to become available before testing selected 6G applications through 5G-Advanced and virtualized network architectures.

The results also indicate that ISAC applications are gradually expanding beyond conventional communications to include environmental sensing, public safety, and smart venue management. Compared with conventional camera-based systems, which require dedicated sensing equipment, ISAC can leverage existing wireless network signals for sensing. Potential applications include crowd management at large-scale events, traffic monitoring, and the tracking of drones and vehicles. Verizon also demonstrated network-based safety tracking of drones and ground vehicles during the same period, further validating the potential for communications networks to provide both connectivity and sensing capabilities.