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Rio Tinto says it is contemplating ceasing operations at its New South Wales-based Tomago aluminium smelter at the end of its current electricity supply contract.

The Tomago aluminium smelter, Australia’s largest, had been struggling with high power prices. It had started a consultation process with employees on the potential future of its operations, but was yet to reach a decision and is weighing a possible closure.

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The smelter’s existing electricity supply contract with AGL Energy expires in December 2028, with Tomago yet to identify a pathway that supports commercially sustainable operations beyond the period “despite extensive engagement and market approaches”, according to the miner’s statement.

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“Unfortunately, all market proposals received so far show future energy prices are not commercially viable, and there is significant uncertainty about when renewable projects will be available at the scale we need,” Tomago Aluminium’s CEO, Jérôme Dozol, said.

A number of smelters in Australia are preparing to switch to 100% renewable energy in the coming decade. Tomago Aluminium, located north-west of Newcastle, had announced in 2021 it would “for all intents and purposes” be 100% renewable by 2029.

As the 6G era approaches, the telecommunications industry is evolving through the integration of diverse technologies. Networks are no longer simple connection infrastructure — they’re becoming AI-driven platforms powering the future of service innovation.

In line with this transformation, Samsung Electronics is building a next-generation technology ecosystem through AI-native networks and strengthening global partnerships to prepare for the 6G era.

In the final part of this interview series, Samsung Newsroom spoke with JinGuk Jeong, Executive Vice President and Head of Advanced Communications Research Center (ACRC) at Samsung Electronics, about the company’s strategy to drive the convergence of telecommunications and AI for the 6G era through global partnerships.

Defining a New 6G Paradigm With AI-Native Networks

Ahead of the 6G era, the integration of AI and telecommunications is creating new value beyond performance gains. “The fusion of AI and telecommunications will deliver two core benefits — innovation in user experience and greater network efficiency through automation,” said Jeong. “To achieve this, Samsung is leading research on AI-native networks that embed AI across every layer of the telecommunications network.”

“AI native doesn’t mean applying AI to specific equipment or functions — it means embedding AI technologies throughout the entire process, from design to operation,” he continued. “For example, in the physical layer (L1), AI reduces noise in radio signals, while in the data link layer (L2), it efficiently allocates network resources for each user.” This approach enhances network performance while reducing power consumption, paving the way for a more sustainable telecommunications environment.

Advancing 6G Through Open Innovation and Collaboration

Through its AI-native approach, Samsung is developing intelligent networks that learn and optimize themselves. “Close collaboration with global telecom operators is essential to realizing the user experience innovations and operational efficiencies enabled by AI,” said Jeong. “Samsung is pursuing joint initiatives to bring these technologies to real-world network environments.”

“These efforts are driven by our open innovation strategy,” he added. “By diversifying collaborations with partners — from field trials with telecom operators to advanced research with academia and partnerships with global industry alliances — Samsung is expanding the ecosystem and taking a leading role in standardization.”

Since 2024, Samsung has strengthened its global partnerships. The company has worked with NTT DOCOMO on user-specific network optimization technologies and with KT to improve coverage and data transmission speeds in potential 6G frequency bands.

Samsung is also enhancing user experience through collaboration with KDDI Research on distributed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology. With Verizon, the company is expanding global discussions on next-generation telecommunications through the Verizon 6G Innovation Forum. In addition, Samsung has begun research with SoftBank on AI-based network performance enhancements. Moving forward, the company plans to continue strengthening its partnerships with telecom operators worldwide.

Beyond these partnerships, Samsung is expanding the AI-driven telecommunications ecosystem through global collaborations. As part of the NextG Initiative Corporate Affiliates Program, the company is co-developing next-generation 6G technologies with Princeton University. Samsung is also broadening its collaboration with leading chip vendors, including Qualcomm, Intel, Arm and NVIDIA.

“The expansion of our partnerships with major telecom operators shows our commitment to turning the technological direction outlined in our 6G white paper earlier this year into concrete research agreements,” said Jeong. “In particular, AI-RAN has moved beyond general simulations and lab-based testing and can now be validated in real-world network environments — allowing global telecom operators to directly experience its benefits. This will be a key driver in accelerating global standardization discussions.”

Global Leadership Toward 6G

Samsung is also leading technical discussions within global industry alliances, shaping the transition to the 6G era.

Since the founding of the AI-RAN Alliance in 2024, Samsung has served as vice chair of the board and chair of Working Group 3 (AI-on-RAN) — spearheading efforts to explore new services through the convergence of AI and wireless technologies. As vice chair of the board for the Next G Alliance, the company also plays a key role in driving research, development and standardization for 6G across North America. “Leveraging our industry-leading expertise in semiconductors, hardware, and software, Samsung is helping lead technical discussions and decision-making within these global alliances,” said Jeong.

Building on its strengths, Samsung continues to demonstrate leadership on the global stage by showcasing proven technologies. At international exhibitions such as Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, the company drew significant attention with its latest AI-RAN innovations. Through its own Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit, Samsung invites telecom operators, manufacturers, government agencies, and academic experts from around the world to share the latest research and achievements in AI-powered telecommunications.

Under the theme “Future Wireless for the AI Era,” last year’s Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit featured a live demonstration of AI-RAN technologies and explored AI integration, sustainability and user experience innovation. “This year’s summit, scheduled for November, will take place under the theme ‘Unlocking New Possibilities With AI-Centric Networks,’” said Jeong. “We plan to showcase AI-RAN technologies validated in real network environments, along with innovative real-world applications.”

Transforming Everyday Life Through Next-Generation Communications

Samsung’s ongoing participation in global alliances and international forums is ultimately aimed at creating meaningful user experiences in everyday life. “In the 6G era, we’ll go beyond improving network performance. Services such as AR and XR will become more widespread, and entirely new ones will emerge,” said Jeong. “Events like the 6G Innovation Forum will also focus on these new services.”

Mobile communications technology has evolved in roughly 10-year cycles, with each generation delivering leaps in performance. The 6G era, however, will redefine network performance and serve as a catalyst for transformative services across industries and everyday life. With ultra-high speeds, ultra-low latency and massive connectivity, 6G is expected to deliver unprecedented communication quality and differentiated user experiences.

Samsung is ushering in a new paradigm through the convergence of telecommunications and AI. By working closely with telecom operators, global industry alliances and academia, the company is leading next-generation communications innovation through ongoing technical collaboration and shared achievements.

With this fourth and final installment, the Next-Generation Communications Leadership series has explored Samsung’s 6G standardization vision, global leadership initiatives, AI-RAN research achievements and global partnership strategy. As Samsung prepares for the 6G era with its unrivaled leadership, the company is poised to bring meaningful change to everyday life.