(Editorial) Realizing the future of next-gen networks with unforeseen innovation – Samsung Global Newsroom

The evolution of mobile network technology has changed our lives gradually and dramatically. These advancements have seeped into our daily lives and changed the way we communicate, spend our free time and work.

Until 2010, communication was mainly based on voice and text. Over the past 13 years, we have seen steady technological advancements from 4G to 5G and beyond, and now we are able to enjoy ultra-high definition, high-capacity media content anytime, anywhere. anywhere.

Mobile network technology has redefined the cultural landscape of connections at all levels – between people, between businesses and between industries.

Software is at the heart of the evolution of mobile networks, towards virtualization

At Samsung, we have been focused on identifying the key technology that will drive mobile network transformation and believe the answer is software.

Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen once said, “Software is eating the world.” Just like this famous phrase, global industries are being “eaten” by software and this dynamic transition is referred to as “virtualization” in the world of network infrastructure. While hardware is the foundation of traditional networks, virtualization is all about moving to software.

Virtualization allows you to turn many hardware functions and features into software, allowing various services to run on a single hardware platform. Simply put, it works the same way as regularly downloading and updating a range of apps on your smartphone.

vRAN will devour the world of network infrastructure

Samsung has spearheaded the transition to virtualization and network openness. We introduced the first fully virtualized radio access network, also known as vRAN. Although vRAN is currently only 3%¹ of the global RAN market, it is a pioneering technology that the industry is watching closely.

Samsung has been a forerunner in the innovative vRAN path, proving our exceptional performance and large-scale real-world commercialization capabilities, leading expansion into key 5G markets including Asia, Europe and the United States. North America.

We supported commercial vRAN on a larger scale for the first time in the world with Verizon in 2020, and since then we have provided stable and reliable 5G services to millions of customers. We also began our collaboration with DISH Wireless and Vodafone Group, actively expanding our vRAN footprint into new markets including the UK, Germany and beyond.

With the innovations we bring to virtualization, we are creating the model for next-generation networks. We are committed to not only advancing our technology, but more importantly, to onboarding and developing the best software talent, which we believe is a central pillar of our accomplishments.

Samsung Networks chipset: packaging the essence of our innovation and technology capabilities

The power of chipsets not only radiates through hardware-based networks, but also into software-centric virtualized architectures. Although most of the functions and functionalities are transformed into software, some integral parts of the network remain in hardware form. Therefore, the ability to pack advanced features into a small chipset is one of our invaluable assets.

Our competitive advantage stems from our unique combination of expertise in innovative software solutions and our comprehensive hardware portfolio combined with our 5G network chipsets.

Samsung is the only major network vendor capable of designing, developing and manufacturing 4G and 5G network chipsets in-house.

With growing market demand for greater power efficiency, along with support for complex spectrum bands and a smaller hardware footprint, there has been a greater emphasis on chipset technologies.

Compared to previous generations, our latest 5G chipset reduces base station power consumption by approximately 40% and antenna size by nearly half compared to previous products, and also includes support for of several spectrum bands.

With a solid foundation built on over 40 years of experience in networking technologies, we have managed to stay ahead of changing market demands, introducing a compact and lightweight radio with performance and high energy efficiency.

Building a better future with energy saving technology

The true value of innovation is not only to advance technology, but also to pursue a better future. From software to AI to chipsets, sustainability has always been at the heart of our product development strategy. Bringing our vision of sustainability to life, we are showcasing our latest power saving features for vRAN at MWC this year.

As legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky once said, “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.

As we continue our exciting journey, Samsung will always think one step ahead, anticipating the future needs of our customers. And, as a pioneer in the mobile networking industry, Samsung will continue to drive this paradigm shift by unleashing the next wave of unforeseen innovation.

¹ Source: Dell’Oro (3rd quarter, 2022)