Samsung Electronics has been recognized by Interbrand, a global brand consultancy, as one of the top five in the Best Global Brands 2022. Each year, Interbrand announces the world’s top 100 brands, and Samsung’s brand value was evaluated for USD 87.7 billion, which represents 17% growth compared to USD 74.6 billion in 2021, ranking the company in fifth place for three years in a row.

The achievement was based on Samsung’s restored financial performance, which is now near pre-pandemic levels, and higher demand for memory due to an increase in data usage. In 2021, Samsung scored a brand value growth of 20 percent compared to 2020 and this year, continues the double-digit growth. Samsung first entered the top 10 list in 2012, placing in ninth position, and has managed to rise in the chart each year, reaching sixth place in 2017 and fifth place in 2020.

“Samsung Electronics was able to record two consecutive years of double-digit growth in brand value, all thanks to the support from our global customers,” said YH Lee, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Samsung Electronics. “In return, the entire company will work together as a team to provide a better and more satisfying customer experience.”

Various Factors Evaluated by Interbrand to Build the Samsung Brand Value

At the end of 2021, Samsung Electronics merged its SET Division and created the Device eXperience Division to increase synergy among its products and provide a next level of experience to customers. Furthermore, Samsung also launched the Customer eXperience-Multi Device Experience Centre to strengthen its multi-device connection experience.

Along with these measures, Samsung has integrated the SmartThings across its product categories, creating an inclusive ecosystem and a multi-device experience. SmartThings also empowers consumers to get the most out of their Samsung devices, as well as third-party products they may already own.

In addition, Samsung’s Future Generation Lab has been created to foster authentic conversations around the activities of the next generation. The insights from the lab have been applied to the products and marketing activities.

As well as innovative products based on consumer experiences, the development of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, automotive and robotics through consistent investment also played a role in Samsung’s growth.

Samsung’s Recognized Efforts in Each Product Division for a Better Customer Experience

Mobile

• Camera innovation of Galaxy S22 series based on customers’ insights, and Nightography campaign rollout Cementing leadership in the foldable mobile phone category
• Partnership with Google and Microsoft to strengthen users’ connected experience
• Respecting the value of user security and privacy through Samsung Knox

 Network

• Pioneering network innovation path in virtualization and openness with large-scale commercial experiences

• Driving 5G industry with its market-leading 5G portfolio from RAN and Core to automation tools
• Realizing the ESG commitment through intelligent network solutions for energy efficiency

Visual Display 

• Continuing innovation of premium TVs, including Micro LED, the Neo QLED 8K/4K
• Strengthening its product portfolio based on customers’ lifestyle, such as The Frame, The Freestyle
• Providing new gaming experiences to consumers, including the Samsung Gaming Hub and the Odyssey Ark

Home Appliances 

• Expanding Bespoke product categories beyond kitchen to entire home including clothing care, floor care and air care
• Delivering sustainability values through its products (achieving high level of energy saving rate for major products, guaranteed warranties for digital inverter compressor, reduced microplastic emission from washing machines in collaboration with Patagonia)
• Creating excitement among Bespoke fans through participation-focused online and offline campaigns

Semiconductor

• Investing in next-generation technologies and production capabilities to ensure stable supplies for cutting-edge applications (constructing new $17B manufacturing line in Texas, KRW 20-trillion R&D complex in Giheung)
• Delivering industry-leading semiconductor innovations that enhance product performance and energy efficiency (industry’s first 3nm GAA mass production)
• Developing innovative memory solutions to address the explosive growth of data-intensive tasks in areas such as AI and ML (CXL memory, HBM-PIM, second-generation SmartSSD), and expanding strategic partnerships to tackle new industry challenges
• Pushing boundaries of logic solutions that can offer enhanced user experiences and new opportunities (5G Exynos Modem, Exynos 2200, 200MP ISOCELL HP3)

Interbrand’s Best Global Brands are listed according to the evaluation of each brand value, which is a result of comprehensive analysis of the financial performance of the company, the influence of the brand on customer purchases and brand competitiveness.

Samsung Electronics announced that its fully-virtualized 5G RAN technology was awarded CTO Choice: Outstanding Mobile Technology Award – the Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough at the annual Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards at Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2022. Samsung’s vRAN solution offers an advanced option for mobile operators seeking improved efficiencies and management benefits to deploy a software-based 5G network infrastructure.

The CTO’s Choice Award is selected by a panel of industry experts comprised of 21 CTOs from leading mobile network operators around the globe. Chosen among the six winners in the Best Mobile Technology category—recognizing distinguished leaders in networks and technology—this is the highest recognition at the prestigious industry awards and a top honor in the global telco industry.

“We are honored that Samsung Networks’ fully-virtualized 5G RAN was recognized as the supreme champion with the CTO’s Choice Award, representing our dedicated efforts in network advancement,” said Junehee Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung believes vRAN is a powerful enabler for network transformation and will pave the path towards next-generation networks. As a global leader in virtualization with successful commercialization experiences, we continue to lead the journey, redefining what is possible for 5G network innovation.”

“In one of the most fiercely contested categories in the GLOMOs, the judges felt that the Samsung entry showed innovation in one of the most exciting parts of the market,” said Shaun Collins, Chair of the Judges, GLOMO Awards (Executive Chairman, CCS Insight). “It was clear the 21 carrier CTOs also thought that and selected Samsung’s entry for the prestigious CTO Choice Award this year.”

This award is backed by Samsung’s commercial track record of vRAN deployments in wide-scale in North America, Europe and Asia. Samsung delivered its 5G vRAN solution for a large-scale commercial network service in the United States that launched in December 2020, providing reliable mobile services to millions of users. The company was also the world’s first in commercializing 5G 64T64R Massive MIMO radios on 5G vRAN using C-band spectrum (3.5GHz).

With a fully disaggregated architecture, Samsung’s vRAN runs on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) servers, offering features and performance that are equivalent to traditional hardware-based equipment. The company’s vRAN brings reliability, scalability and flexibility to mobile operators’ networks.

For detailed information on Samsung’s vRAN and Open RAN leadership, please refer to the recent announcement.

Samsung has pioneered the successful delivery of 5G end-to-end solutions including chipsets, radios, and core. Through ongoing research and development, Samsung drives the industry to advance 5G networks with its market-leading product portfolio from fully virtualized RAN and Core to private network solutions and AI-powered automation tools. The company is currently providing network solutions to mobile operators that deliver connectivity to hundreds of millions of users around the world.

Samsung didn’t just help introduce 5G to the world – they’ve been setting new records.

An October 2020 report from Strategy Analytics revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G was the best-selling 5G device by revenue for the first half of 2020, accounting for 9 percent of global revenue. The Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G was second, accounting for 8 percent of global revenue, and the Galaxy S20 5G was third, accounting for 5 percent during the same period. Together, Samsung’s S20 trio were the top selling 5G smartphones in the world, accounting for 22 percent of global 5G sales revenue.

In addition to leading sales records, Samsung has also launched a series of new devices and network solutions to bring 5G to more people across the world. In the last two years, Samsung has introduced a full portfolio of Galaxy 5G phones, from mid-range devices like the Galaxy A51 5G, to category-changing devices like the Galaxy Z Fold2. Samsung has also released 5G enabled PCs and tablets. In addition, Samsung has worked closely with leading mobile operators around the world to advance 5G through a wide array of network solutions, including 5G RAN, Core and Network Automation tools.

“Samsung has established itself as a leader in the 5G space, and played a key role in the development of 5G around the world,” said Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics. “With global 5G smartphone shipments expected to exceed 660 million devices by the end of next year, we believe the company will continue to play a significant role in growing the next-generation mobile network.[1]”

The success is a testament to Samsung’s pioneering vision for 5G that started over a decade ago.

Leading the 5G Transformation

For more than 10 years, Samsung has been laying the groundwork for 5G by investing in the creation of meaningful innovations and building a strong network of partners. From chipsets to network solutions and devices, Samsung has been developing the critical components of 5G from the technology’s inception.

Samsung’s leading research and development teams, as well as collaborations with standardization groups and carriers, enabled the technology to deliver faster data speeds and higher bandwidth promised by 5G[2]. In 2009, it started research into ultra-high frequency mmWave technology. By 2013, it reached speeds above 1Gbps in test trials (Link) and a year later, broke its own record by using mmWave to reach 7.5Gbps (Link). Since 2018, Samsung’s various 5G network solutions have played a key role in the commercial launches of 5G services in Japan, Korea, and the United States.

“Samsung has achieved outstanding technical breakthroughs in 5G and this is a reflection of our continuous research and development spanning over a decade,” said Wonil Roh, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Product Strategy, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “Powered by our in-house chipsets and software, Samsung’s 5G RAN and Core solutions have been delivering competitive performance to the operators, and we will continue to lead the forefront of the global 5G market by bringing unparalleled experiences to customers around world.”

To ensure consumers get the best 5G experience, Samsung has also expanded collaboration with IT firms and mobile operators to push 5G technology forward, particularly for 5G Standalone networks, private 5G networks, and mission critical networks. Moreover, its 5G network solutions portfolio includes the latest advanced 5G network solutions, such as RAN, Core, and Network automation tools.

Beyond network solutions, Samsung introduced the world’s first commercially available 5G smartphone and tablet in 2019: The Galaxy S10 5G and the Galaxy Tab S6 5G. For the past 2 years, Samsung has continued to fine-tune the 5G experience for consumers in 5G-ready markets, defined by intelligent connections and optimal performance available on Galaxy devices.

Partnerships with Xbox, for example, provide Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with console-quality graphics and access to their favorite titles on the go via cloud gaming (Beta) with devices like the Galaxy Note20. With social distancing and workplaces going remote, optimizations for Google Duo have ensured high-quality video chats connect people to family, friends, and co-workers. Together with various industry partners, Samsung has also been helping enterprises harness the true potential of 5G in private networks. It has collaborated with public cloud leaders to simplify the deployment of private 5G networks for enterprises to bring intelligent solutions into factories and offices.

These innovations are available on Samsung’s full portfolio of 5G devices, which includes affordable mid-range devices in the Galaxy A series, laptops like the Galaxy Book Flex, high-end tablets like the Galaxy Tab S7/S7+, and more. But this is just the beginning of Samsung’s plans for 5G.

Making 5G Available to More People

Samsung has its sights set on bringing next-gen connectivity to more people in more markets. A key part of this plan is to roll out more device options beyond the high-end segment and introduce 5G connectivity to a wider range of entry-level devices. Another key element is to expand Samsung’s 5G network footprint across the globe, delivering immersive 5G experiences to more customers and markets around the world.

“Our goal has always been to put the power of 5G into as many hands as possible and push the industry forward with pioneering innovations,” said Won-Joon Choi, EVP and Head of Flagship Product R&D Team at Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The early success of Galaxy 5G devices is proof that Samsung is offering users one of the best experiences 5G has to offer, and we will continue to do that by developing a broader range of Galaxy 5G devices at a variety of price points.”

In addition to expanding its portfolio, Samsung is making groundbreaking discoveries to make the 5G experience even better.

This year, Samsung introduced the power of network virtualization by bringing its fully virtualized 5G RAN (vRAN) to the market, providing mobile operators with flexible, scalable, cost-efficient 5G networks with superior performance. It also unveiled Samsung’s Link Cell, a 5G indoor solution which enables operators to provide enhanced, seamless 5G experiences for their users. Additionally, the C-Band Massive MIMO radio solution Samsung introduced in October will give even more people access to immersive 5G experiences.

These advancements are a continuation of Samsung’s extensive work to develop 5G technology in collaboration with major global operators to showcase virtualized Core solutions and to test 5G end-to-end network slicing, advancing and unlocking the full potential of 5G.

Samsung is also continuing its decades-long work with organizations like the 3GPP to develop standards for 5G that will help shape the future of the technology, from Industrial IoT (IIoT) to faster data transfer speeds and improved security.

The Impact of Samsung on 5G in Canada

In Canada, Samsung is at the forefront of the 5G revolution, having been selected as the 5G networks infrastructure supplier for providers including TELUS and Videotron.   Samsung will play a large part in helping TELUS build out its nationwide 5G network, laying groundwork to be one of the primary telecom vendors in Canada. Earlier this year, TELUS launched its 5G network in 26 communities across Canada, including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal.

After signing a milestone agreement in 2019, Videotron and Samsung announced a collaboration to gradually launch 5G service to users in Quebec this year. For the launch, Samsung has provided 5G RAN, which covers 600MHz, 700MHz, 2.6GHz and AWS spectrums. Moreover, Samsung’s RAN supports both LTE and 5G NR, enabling convenient operation of a network, and saves installation space while reducing CAPEX and OPEX. The commercial rollout will open up exciting experiences for Videotron’s 5G users and bring reliable and advanced 5G services to users in Canada.

“5G is a catalyst for change that will allow everything and everyone to communicate with each other quickly, reliably and with near-endless data capacity,” said Stephen Wiktorski, Head of Networks, Samsung Electronics Canada. “Samsung offers Canadians an end-to-end 5G experience. In addition to 5G network solutions, Samsung was the first to launch a 5G-capable device and, with more innovation on the horizon to change how we connect within our homes, workplaces, and even cars.”

With the success of the Galaxy S20 series, Samsung has already set the pace for 5G adoption and shaped consumer expectations for next-gen connectivity. As it continues to play a critical role in refining the technology and making it more accessible through a broader range of devices, including standalone 5G smartphones, the future of 5G looks more promising than ever.

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[1] “Samsung S20+ is World’s No.1 5G Smartphone Model by Revenue”, Strategy Analytics, https://www.strategyanalytics.com/access-services/devices/mobile-phones/smartphone/smartphone-model-tracker/reports/report-detail/samsung-s20-is-world’s-no.1-5g-smartphone-model-by-revenue

[2] 5G availability and network performance, including but not limited to download and streaming speeds, may vary based on market, network and/or content provider, data plans, and other factors.