Samsung and AT&T Launch First U.S. 5G Innovation Zone to Transform Smart Manufacturing

In a groundbreaking partnership, Samsung and AT&T are creating the United States’ first 5G‑enabled “Innovation Zone” at Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s fab in Austin, Texas. The collaboration will demonstrate how 5G can elevate smart‑factory operations, from immersive AR/VR training to real‑time industrial IoT (IIoT) monitoring and predictive maintenance.

“Our goal is to provide a real‑world understanding of how 5G transforms manufacturing,” said Shiraz Hasan, vice president of AT&T’s Global and Industry Solutions Channel Marketing. “By testing this technology in a live production environment, we can develop a proven model that can be replicated worldwide.”

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Samsung’s Austin facility will also serve as a testbed for 5G‑enabled sensors that capture environmental data, machine performance, and equipment status. According to industry experts, 5G’s low latency (under 1 ms), high reliability, and network slicing capabilities make it uniquely suited for dense factory environments with concrete and steel structures.

Jonathan Taylor, vice president of manufacturing systems at Samsung Austin Semiconductor, explained the value of AR/VR for technician training. “Traditional training requires pulling equipment out of production, which disrupts operations,” Taylor said. “By using AR/VR, we can deliver high‑quality, hands‑on instruction without taking tools offline, boosting productivity while maintaining training excellence.”

The project’s broader objectives include predictive maintenance, quality improvement, and granular facility control. “The more data we can collect in real time, the better we can optimize processes and reduce downtime,” Taylor added.

Wilf Norrlinger, vice president of Samsung Electronics America’s networks division, emphasized the global implications: “As we validate these use cases over the next 10–12 months, we’ll create a scalable model that the industry can adopt worldwide.”

“Extensive testing across verticals is essential to translate 5G from hype to operational reality in the United States,” said Steve Brumer, partner at 151 Advisors.