Alliance with US Telecom Carriers
Samsung Electronics is preparing to preoccupy the next generation telecommunication equipment and terminal markets by reinforcing a global alliance for the commercialization of 5G mobile telecommunication services.
According to the electronics industry on September 18, Samsung Electronics will push for 5G technological tests and demonstrations in the 28GHz band, one of the most coveted frequency bands by partnering with T Mobile, a major US wireless carrier at the beginning of this month. With the deal with T Mobile, Samsung Electronics decided to step up its 5G alliances with all of America’s three leading mobile carriers including AT&T and Verizon, both of which Samsung Electronics agreed to band together with.
First of all, Samsung Electronics will demonstrate a nearly commercially complete 5G service in the 28GHz frequency band with T Mobile within next year. Samsung Electronics successfully developed a small antenna and a power amplifier for base stations that can be used in the 28GHz, one of millimeter wave frequency bands in June. Moreover, the Korean electronics giant will apply its beam forming technology to the 5G demonstration work with T Mobile. The beam forming technology realizes optimal telecommunication quality by transferring wave signals from base stations to terminals including cell phones like electronic beams.
“Samsung Electronics is making suggestions about development directions as a board member of the Advanced Wireless Research Initiative (AWRI) led by the White House for the completion of 5G technology standards,” said a representative of the electronics industry. “The collaboration with T Mobile is pushed forward with in this context.”
“The 5G technology being developed by the AWRI is highly likely to become such a leading international standard that the Korean government will apply the technology to a 5G telecommunication network that will be tentatively operated beginning in 2018,” said an official at the Korean Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. “Samsung Electronics’ collaboration with US carriers as a member of the AWRI will raise a possibility that the company will take the initiative in the 5G market.”