Established in 2012, the award recognizes individual contributions to the development of next-generation mobile telecommunications standards.

Dr. Onggosanusi, who works in the Standards and Mobility Innovation Lab at SRA, was honored for his contributions to 3GPP RAN Working Group 1 (RAN1)¹ — particularly for his leadership in advancing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems within the 3GPP community.

“I am proud to contribute to Samsung’s efforts in 3GPP standardization,” said Dr. Onggosanusi. “It has been a privilege to serve in RAN1 as the 3GPP RAN MIMO rapporteur. My focus has been on fostering collaboration and consensus within the 3GPP community to develop state-of-the-art physical-layer technology and help shape the future of cellular standards.”

Dr. Onggosanusi has been a RAN1 delegate since 2005, contributing to the early development of 4G LTE. After joining Samsung in 2014, he became the rapporteur for full-dimension multiple-input multiple-output (FD-MIMO) systems. He has held the role across six consecutive MIMO work items spanning multiple releases from 2014 to 2025, covering both 4G LTE and 5G New Radio (NR) standardization.

By improving network efficiency, data rates and coverage through advanced multi-antenna signal processing, MIMO is a core technology for both 4G and 5G. Its evolution, including active antenna systems, has enabled large-scale antenna deployments in 5G. Samsung Research — an advanced R&D hub within the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics — led this advancement through a pioneering 3GPP work item expected to play a key role in 6G networks and significantly enhance the mobile user experience.

This marks the eighth time a Samsung employee has received the 3GPP Excellence Award, more than any other company. The milestone further underscores Samsung’s leadership in advancing mobile telecommunications technology and standardization.

1. 3GPP RAN Working Group 1 (RAN1) is responsible for specifying the physical layer of radio interfaces for user equipment (UE), the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), the Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) and more. ︎

In this context, Dr. Younsun Kim, Master at Samsung Electronics’ Technology Standards Research Team, was elected Chair of the 3GPP Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network (TSG RAN) in March, marking the first time a Korean has taken on the role. As Chair, Dr. Kim is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping next-generation communications standards in this early and formative phase.

Following part one of this interview series, Samsung Newsroom sat down with Dr. Kim for part two to explore the strategic challenges and opportunities he faces in his leadership roles at 3GPP and Samsung Research, as well as his vision for the future of 6G standardization.

▲ Dr. Younsun Kim, Master at Samsung Electronics’ Technology Standards Research Team

Full-Scale Launch of 6G Technical Standardization Efforts in 2025

In 2023, the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) released the 6G Framework, outlining the overarching direction for future communications technologies. By 2026, the organization aims to finalize both the technical requirements and evaluation methods for candidate technologies.

In line with this timeline, 3GPP held a 6G workshop in Korea this past March, officially marking the start of formal standardization efforts. TSG RAN — currently chaired by Dr. Kim — plays a central role in this process, accounting for a major portion of patents associated with global communication standards.

“During the June meeting — the first meeting I chaired since taking on the role — we approved the 6G Study Item,¹ the official starting point of 6G technology research,” said Dr. Kim. “We’ve now entered the phase of closely evaluating the performance enhancement potentials of candidate technologies. Based on these findings, the roadmap and timeline for 6G specifications are expected to be finalized by June of next year.”

▲ 6G standardization roadmap

6G development is currently in the stage of establishing use cases and technical requirements, which lays the groundwork for detailed research on candidate technologies. This research is expected to continue for approximately two years, through mid-2027. After that, the process will formally transition to the standard specification development phase, known as the Work Item,² with the first set of official 6G specifications projected to be completed by mid-2029.

Consensus-Building: The Core of Standardization Leadership

Dr. Kim is an industry veteran who began his work on mobile-communication physical-layer standardization in 1999. Over the past 26 years, he has been involved in standardization activities across multiple generations from 3G to 6G. In 2017, he was appointed Vice Chair of RAN1, one of the working groups within 3GPP TSG RAN, and became Chair of RAN1 in 2021, where he led the development of the initial 5G standards and subsequent discussions to further advance 5G standardization. Since being elected Chair of the 3GPP TSG RAN in March, he now oversees all RAN-related standardization discussions.

▲ The journey from 3G to 6G standardization

“As RAN1 Chair, I mainly approached the decision making process from a technical perspective. Even when discussions were intense, decisions could ultimately be made based on technical merit or evidence,” said Dr. Kim. “But now, overseeing the entire scope of RAN standardization, I find that many issues can no longer be resolved just based on technical aspects alone.”

3GPP is a global partnership project comprising more than 800 member organizations from 43 countries. With such a wide range of stakeholders — each bringing their own needs, strategies, and technical proposals — the Chair plays a crucial role in shaping the technical agenda, mediating conflicting viewpoints, and guiding the overall direction of discussions.

▲ (Left) Dr. Younsun Kim presides over a 3GPP TSG RAN meeting; (Right) Attendees engage in the meeting proceedings.

“One of the Chair’s key responsibilities is to lead discussions on future work scope of RAN working groups and coordinate development timelines. The role also involves setting technical priorities and steering dialogue in the right direction,” Dr. Kim explained. “That said, since 3GPP operates based on consensus, decisions are made only when a shared understanding is reached among participating companies.”

The Need for Balance That Goes Beyond Corporate and National Interests

Building consensus is no easy task. As the focal point of standardization discussions, the Chair must act as both a trusted architect and an impartial mediator, capable of reconciling a wide range of interests. The role demands a global perspective and strong sense of balance that transcend corporate or national affiliations.

“The foremost duty of the Chair is to build a structure that partners can trust and rally behind,” said Dr. Kim. “Driving consensus requires the ability to understand differing regional and business perspectives — and to craft workable compromises. Over the next four years, I’ll focus on deepening engagement with member companies and gaining a fuller understanding of their views.”

As the first Korean to chair the 3GPP TSG RAN, Dr. Kim is a true trailblazer. His leadership not only marks a personal milestone but also reflects Samsung Electronics’ growing influence across the global standardization landscape. Backed by the company’s technological expertise, Dr. Kim is helping carry forward Samsung’s legacy of innovation on the world stage as the industry turns its focus to how the 6G standard will take shape in the years ahead.

In part three of this series, Samsung Newsroom will explore AI-RAN, a next-generation communications technology poised to reshape the industry, and highlight Samsung’s research initiatives aimed at establishing it as a global standard.

¹ A preliminary research phase focused on evaluating the technical feasibility and performance of candidate 6G technologies before formal specification begins.
² A formal development phase in which technologies identified during the Study Item are further refined, specified and incorporated into official standard specifications.

Juyeon Song, a researcher at Samsung Electronics, has been appointed to lead the 6G Spectrum Drafting Group within the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Conference Preparatory Group for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (APG-27). Representing South Korea, Song was elected chair following a competitive process involving candidates from six other countries — reaffirming the global leadership of both Korea and Samsung in shaping the future of 6G technology.

APT is an intergovernmental organization that promotes the development of information and communication technology across the Asia-Pacific region by coordinating the shared interests and policy directions of its member countries. Operating under APT, the APT Conference Preparatory Group (APG) enables the region to respond collectively to the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC).¹

Scheduled for October 2027, WRC-27 is expected to identify the new 6G spectrum bands. Song will play a pivotal role in aligning the perspectives of the 38 APT member countries to develop a unified proposal on 6G spectrum bands. Her efforts will also support the broader goal of securing favorable outcomes for the Asia-Pacific region at WRC-27.

Previously, Song served as chair of the 5G Vision Group for the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), where she led the development of the global vision for 5G mobile communications. She later played a key role in the 5G standardization process as vice chair of Study Group 5 (SG 5), ITU-R’s terrestrial services group. With her latest appointment, she will oversee 6G spectrum discussions across the Asia-Pacific region. This reinforces Samsung’s leadership in 6G and provides a strategic advantage in securing mid-band spectrum — critical for expanding the company’s presence in the mobile communications market.

Since 2019, Samsung has accelerated its 6G technology research through the establishment of its Advanced Communications Research Center (ACRC). In parallel, the company has articulated its vision for next-generation mobile communications by publishing the 6G White Paper and 6G Spectrum White Paper. Building on Samsung’s existing leadership in standardization through the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Song’s new role in the 6G spectrum domain highlights the company’s expanding influence in next-generation communications. Looking ahead, Samsung plans to take a strategic approach across key areas such as technology development, global standardization and spectrum acquisition as it prepares for the 6G era.

¹ Held every four years by the International Telecommunication Union, the World Radiocommunication Conference is the highest decision-making body in the field of radiocommunications — responsible for determining global frequency allocation and usage policies. Due to its significance, it is often referred to as the “Olympics of spectrum.”

Since 2020, Samsung Electronics has played a pioneering role in advancing next-generation communication technologies through active participation in international standardization efforts. This includes the publication of its 6G white papers and securing of key positions in major organizations such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). At the May 2025 3GPP elections, Samsung secured additional leadership positions, reaffirming its distinct standing at the forefront of the industry.

To shine a light on this progress, Samsung Newsroom is launching an interview series with the leaders of the company’s communications business, which will introduce the current state of next-generation communications technology research and global standardization efforts. In part one of the Communications Leadership Interview series, the Newsroom sat down with Jin-Kyu Han, Vice President of the Tech Standards Research Team at Samsung Research, to discuss the current landscape and future outlook of 6G standardization, as well as Samsung’s strategies and vision.

▲ Jin-Kyu Han, Vice President of the Tech Standards Research Team at Samsung Research

International Standards for Seamless Communication Across Borders

Today, using our own smartphones to access roaming services while traveling abroad is something we often take for granted. This is a convenience that has only become truly seamless through the invisible promise of international standards — born from the collaboration of countless companies and experts around the world.

“Common protocols are essential for products and services from different companies to work together seamlessly,” explained Han. “In the mobile communications industry, where a diverse range of players — including smartphone manufacturers, network equipment vendors, telecom operators and semiconductor companies — are involved, standardization is an indispensable element. It plays a key role in uniting the world into a single market.”

Standardization serves as the backbone that drives the global communications industry toward a unified direction. “At technological inflection points like the transition to 6G, the importance of industry-wide discussions and consensus on standards becomes even greater,” Han emphasized.

Global Collaboration Driving 6G Standardization

How does global standardization actually function? Unlike initiatives driven by a single entity, global telecommunications standardization is built on a clear, step-by-step framework of collaboration. Two key players in this process are the International Telecommunication Union (ITU¹) and the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP²).

“The ITU sets the direction for each new generation of communication technology, and based on that blueprint, the 3GPP works with global companies to define the technical details and carry out the standardization process,” explained Han.

▲ Overview of ITU and 3GPP

Global 6G standardization has now entered its launch phase. Following preliminary discussions on 6G technology directions that began in 2021, ITU-R officially announced the recommended framework for 6G standardization in November 2023. With the goal of finalizing 6G technical specifications by 2030, 3GPP plans to develop and propose a range of candidate technologies.

“3GPP took its first step toward 6G standardization by hosting a workshop in Korea this March,” explained Han. “6G study items were approved during its plenary meeting in June, and starting in the second half of this year, detailed technical discussions will begin within its Working Groups (WGs).”

▲ Key milestones and objectives of the ITU and 3GPP by year

The standardization of 6G is a shared journey in which the world works together toward a common goal. As standardization efforts gain momentum, companies worldwide are moving quickly to position their technologies within this framework, ensuring interoperability while developing solutions that meet market demands.

Samsung’s 6G Leadership: Driving Consensus Amid Fierce Competition

Countries and companies around the world are participating in discussions on next-generation communications standardization, each taking on specific roles. This process demands forward-looking leadership capable of both steering technological development and harmonizing diverse viewpoints—a role where Samsung Electronics has emerged as a central figure, simultaneously advancing innovation while building industry consensus.

Standardization is a continuous process marked by fierce competition among countless global stakeholders that aim to secure a lead in standards by having their own technologies incorporated. In this complex landscape, Samsung has consistently been elected to leadership positions within groups, earning recognition for its neutrality, credibility and coordination capabilities

“Samsung chaired the ITU-R’s 6G Vision Group, helping to establish the initial global vision for 6G and contributing to the design of its early roadmap,” explained Han. “We’re also leading discussions within 3GPP by serving as chairs and vice chairs across various technical groups, steering the direction of standardization.”

Currently, Samsung Electronics holds a total of eight chair and vice-chair positions across 3GPP’s key Technical Specification Groups (TSGs). Han added, “In particular, the Radio Access Network (RAN) and System Architecture (SA) WG2 groups, where Samsung serves as chair, are central to shaping the structure and direction of 6G technologies. These groups are at the core of industry-wide technical discussions and the fact that Samsung chairs them is a testament to our influence.”

Samsung is also laying a solid technological foundation for standardization discussions through its pioneering research activities across various core 6G technologies. Since standardization only holds real value when it is backed by concrete technologies and practical feasibility, Samsung’s technological competitiveness contributes to making these discussions more effective.

“3GPP chairs are responsible for guiding discussions according to the timeline, while mediating and resolving various conflicts that arise during the standardization process,” Han explained. “Holding a significant number of chair positions is a clear sign that the mobile communications industry recognizes our technological capabilities and leadership.”

Key Focus Areas for Next-Generation 6G Research

As technical discussions within 3GPP begin in earnest this year, Samsung is concentrating its research on the core technologies necessary for 6G commercialization. At the heart of these discussions are three key phrases: AI integration, enhanced energy efficiency, and strengthened security.

“6G should deliver user-perceivable improvements, not just faster speeds or higher quality,” noted Han. “By applying AI technologies to network operations, we can automate complex processes while simultaneously reducing operational costs and improving service quality.”

“From the increasingly critical perspective of security and privacy, Samsung is also focusing on building safer communication systems while increasing system flexibility to easily and rapidly incorporate new services,” he added.

As we approach the 6G era — where technologies and services will connect seamlessly across national borders — international cooperation and coordination are more important than ever. In this evolving landscape, Samsung Electronics continues to play a leading role in shaping the global conversation on next-generation connectivity.

In part two of this series, Samsung Newsroom will explore the 6G standardization roadmap, key focus technologies and Samsung’s role as chair of the 3GPP TSG RAN, providing a closer look at the forefront of next-generation communications discussions.

¹ Short for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations specialized agency dedicated to advancing information and communication technologies (ICT) and networks. Its work includes allocating radio frequencies, establishing technical standards, and supporting developing countries, while playing a vital role in fostering international cooperation in the global ICT sector.
² Short for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, an international collaborative initiative established to develop standards for mobile communication technologies. It primarily develops globally applicable specifications for mobile communication systems, including radio access networks, services and systems, core networks, and mobile devices.

▲ (From left) Rajavelsamy Rajadurai and Lixiang Xu

Samsung Electronics has secured new chair and vice-chair positions in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the world’s largest telecommunications standards organization.

Established in 1998, 3GPP develops global mobile communications standards with participation from major companies and organizations including Samsung, Qualcomm, Apple, Ericsson, Nokia and Huawei. The international body consists of three Technical Specification Groups (TSGs) — Service and System Aspects (SA), Radio Access Network (RAN) and Core Network and Terminals (CT) — each overseeing four to six Working Groups (WGs) for a total of 15 WGs across the organization.

Rajavelsamy Rajadurai, Principal Architect at Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore (SRI–B), has been elected chair of 3GPP’s Service and System Aspects Working Group 3 (SA WG3). Meanwhile, Lixiang Xu, Principal Engineer at Samsung R&D Institute China-Beijing (SRC-B), has been elected vice chair of 3GPP’s Radio Access Network Working Group 3 (RAN WG3). SA WG3 defines standards related to network security and user privacy, whereas RAN WG3 develops base station interface protocol technologies. 

In March, Dr. Younsun Kim, Master at Samsung Research, was elected chair of 3GPP’s Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network (TSG RAN) — leading standardization across all areas of wireless technology including the physical layer, protocol aspects and radio resource control.

With these latest appointments, Samsung now holds three chair positions (SA WG2, SA WG3 and TSG RAN) and five vice-chair positions (SA WG4, SA WG6, RAN WG2, RAN WG3 and CT WG3) within 3GPP.

Beginning in the second half of 2025, 3GPP will initiate research into 6G technologies. SA WG3 plans to explore security enhancements to counter cyberattacks, including those from quantum computers, and to develop privacy protection technologies for mobile communications networks. RAN WG3 is expected to research AI-powered solutions to reduce energy consumption at base stations and improve service quality. These groups are positioned to play a crucial role in advancing the use of AI, strengthening security and promoting sustainability — all key focus areas in the development of 6G.

Through its expanded leadership within 3GPP, Samsung has established a framework to help drive standards across the mobile industry and collaborate with partners to shape the future of next-generation communications.

▲ Dr. Younsun Kim, Master at Samsung Research

Samsung Electronics today announced that it has secured a leadership position at the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the world’s largest telecommunications standard development organization.

During the plenary meeting held in Incheon on March 12, Dr. Younsun Kim, Master at Samsung Research, Samsung Electronics, was elected as Chair of 3GPP Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network (TSG RAN),¹ which is responsible for standardizing all aspects of wireless technology, such as the physical layer, protocol aspects and radio resource control.

“I believe that my election as chair is further recognition of Samsung’s leadership in mobile communication technology,” said Dr. Kim. “6G standardization involves more than just solving technical issues; it is a collaborative effort requiring participation from all companies and organizations in the mobile communication sector. I will make every effort to successfully lead 3GPP’s TSG RAN and advance the standardization of 6G.”

Since its establishment in 1998, 3GPP has led the development of global mobile communication technology standards with participation from major telecommunications companies and organizations worldwide, including Samsung, Apple, Qualcomm, Huawei, Ericsson and Nokia.

In May 2021, Dr. Kim was elected Chair of 3GPP Radio Access Network Working Group 1 (RAN WG1), which is the largest working group within 3GPP and responsible for developing physical layer specifications for 3GPP radio access technologies. Over the past four years, Dr. Kim has successfully led the standardization of 5G physical layer technology, significantly contributing to the emergence of the 5G network industry.

Through Dr. Kim’s expanded role as Chair of 3GPP TSG RAN starting in May, Samsung will be able to contribute to the standardization of 6G, the next generation of mobile communication technology.

Dr. Kim’s appointment to the chair position of the Technical Specification Group is viewed as a recognition of Samsung’s contributions and technological leadership in the mobile communication industry.

The company currently holds two chair positions in RAN WG1 and SA WG2, as well as four vice-chair positions in RAN WG2, SA WG4, SA WG6 and CT WG3. With Dr. Kim’s election as Chair of 3GPP TSG RAN, Samsung Electronics will maintain the industry’s highest number of chair positions within 3GPP, even after the RAN WG1 chair term expires, solidifying its pivotal role among over 800 member companies.

The advancement of mobile communication systems is now at a turning point. It must not only enhance transmission speeds but also drive 6G standardization with a focus on new values. 3GPP plans to launch research on 6G in the second half of this year.

6G aims to achieve future-oriented and sustainable advancements in mobile communication technology, including improving the energy efficiency of networks, enhancing network quality using AI and introducing security technologies to prevent attacks originating from quantum computers. At this critical milestone, Dr. Kim’s election as chair by the support from international mobile communication standards experts holds great significance.

Meanwhile, Samsung recently published a 6G White Paper titled, “AI-Native & Sustainable Communication” that outlines the latest trends and future of next-generation mobile communication technologies. It also highlights Samsung’s leadership in 6G research and other key technologies.

With its leadership in next-generation communication technology and Dr. Younsun Kim’s role as Chair of 3GPP, Samsung is expected to lead the standardization of 6G technology and make significant contributions to the advancement of the mobile communication industry overall.

¹ The 3GPP comprises three Technical Specification Groups (TSGs): Radio Access Network (RAN), Service and System Aspects (SA), and Core Network and Terminals (CT). Each TSG consists of 4–6 Working Groups (WGs), for a total of 15 working groups.

Samsung Electronics today announced that UScellular has enhanced its 5G network capabilities in the Mid-Atlantic region with Samsung’s 5G solutions. The companies have worked together to deploy a new network architecture using Samsung’s 5G mmWave and virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) solution to support UScellular’s growing fixed wireless access and mobile traffic. In November, the operator launched this new service in several markets in the region, already delivering elevated connectivity to its customers.

For the Mid-Atlantic markets, UScellular utilized Samsung’s 5G Compact Macro — a 3GPP-based distributed architecture solution — to enable mmWave connectivity, offering its customers fast, reliable mobile and broadband services. Compact Macro consolidates the baseband, radio and antenna into a single, lightweight form factor for swift and easy installation. Samsung’s mmWave technology allows the operator to access the expansive bandwidth in the 28GHz and 39GHz bands, which support ultra-high speeds and low latency. By leveraging Samsung’s advanced solutions, UScellular could rapidly enhance the 5G performance through multi-gigabit speeds.

“We’re excited to work with Samsung as we continue to enhance our next-generation network,” said Mike Dienhart, Vice President of Engineering and Network Operations, UScellular. “Tapping into the ultra-high bandwidth of the mmWave spectrum allows us to unleash new capabilities and deliver cutting-edge customer experiences. Samsung’s proven expertise in innovative 5G and vRAN makes them an ideal partner.”

Samsung is also offering its notable and widely used vRAN solution with Central Unit functionality to support UScellular’s virtualized network. Samsung’s vRAN provides the operator with additional bandwidth and advanced intelligence capabilities including energy saving features, while enabling the company to quickly scale capacity and efficiently deploy advanced services. This network advancement highlights UScellular’s commitment to leading 5G innovation.

“We’re extremely pleased that UScellular selected Samsung’s industry-leading mmWave and vRAN solutions as key enablers for their 5G network enhancement in this area,” said Wilf Norrlinger, Vice President, US Sales, Networks Business, Samsung Electronics America. “This collaboration showcases how our innovations in areas such as vRAN and mmWave are unlocking new capabilities. It’s exciting to collaborate with forward-thinking providers like UScellular and push the next-generation wireless to new frontiers.”

The companies have a strong working relationship and have been working together on new network configurations to support UScellular’s growing fixed wireless customer base.

Samsung has pioneered the successful delivery of 5G end-to-end solutions, including chipsets, radios and cores. Through ongoing research and development, Samsung drives the industry to advance 5G networks with its market-leading product portfolio, including vRAN 3.0, Open RAN, core to private network solutions and AI-powered automation tools. The company currently provides innovative network solutions to mobile operators that deliver boundless connectivity to hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

About UScellular
UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to help customers stay connected to the things that matter most. The Chicago-based carrier provides a strong, reliable network supported by the latest technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. Through its After School Access Project, the company has donated more than $30 million in hotspots and service to help youth connect to reliable internet. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, visit newsroom.uscellular.com.

Samsung Electronics today hosted the Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit under the theme “Future Wireless for the AI Era” in Mountain View, California.

Following the announcement of 5G-Advanced standards by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP¹) in March, the industry anticipates an expanded application of AI technology in telecommunications. In particular, as preparations for 6G communications intensify, interest in next-generation communication technologies utilizing AI continues to grow.

In this environment, Samsung Electronics organized the Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit to share the vision and possibilities that come with a communications system that applies AI technology.

The event attracted approximately 80 distinguished participants, including representatives from major telecommunications operators, manufacturers, government agencies and academia from various countries, who engaged in comprehensive discussions about the trajectory of research and technologies for AI-native² communications.

“Since the introduction of 5G, the telecommunications market has increasingly focused on enhancing user experience alongside performance improvements through innovative technologies like AI and energy efficiency advancements,” said Angelo Jeongho Park, Vice President of Samsung Research’s Advanced Communications Research Center at Samsung Electronics. “Starting with this summit, we will help industry and academic leaders to work together to continue the much-needed research already being carried out on the convergence of AI and wireless communication technologies, making the user experience even better.”

Sharing Developments in AI-Native Communication Technology: The Direction of Next-Gen Communication Research

The summit commenced with a keynote presentation from industry experts titled, “Shaping the Future of Next Generation Mobile Communication,” followed by three main sessions: “AI-Native Communication,” “Sustainability: Energy Saving & Efficiency,” and “Innovations to Drive Future Wireless.” Each session included panel discussions, facilitating dynamic exchanges between participants through Q&A sessions and active debates.

In “AI-Native Communication,” participants carried out an in-depth discussion on the potential benefits of AI-Native being applied to all areas of telecommunications, as well as emerging services and key challenges that require resolution.

“Sustainability: Energy Saving & Efficiency” focused on key technologies and required research for sustainable 6G communication systems that are emerging as major technical trends — including energy savings and efficiency improvements.

Later on, the discussions between panelists at “Innovations to Drive Future Wireless” explored the 6G network architecture innovations needed to provide services and user experiences that are more differentiated than those provided by 5G.

The technical demonstration session that closed out the day introduced AI radio access network (RAN) technology that has been jointly developed by Samsung Electronics and its partners. The cutting-edge technology that applies AI to RAN enhances base station quality by optimizing key performance factors such as spectral efficiency and energy efficiency.

The event facilitated the valuable exchange of information between key players while also addressing the path forward for the industry, which will see the convergence of AI and wireless communication technologies.

Improving User Experiences With AI-Native Next-Gen Communication Technology

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics continues its efforts to expand the global influence of next-generation communication technologies utilizing AI.

In February this year, the company served as a founding member of the AI-RAN Alliance, currently holding board membership and vice chairing the AI on RAN working group. In July, Samsung secured the chairpersonship of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 6G standardization group in the radio communication sector, demonstrating its commitment to 6G research and ecosystem development. The company has also been reappointed as vice chair of the board of directors at Next G Alliance (NGA), strengthening its leadership in AI-native communications technology even further.

Additionally, the company actively solidified its collaborative efforts in August, when it signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese mobile carrier NTT DOCOMO for joint research on the application of AI in next-generation communications.

¹ 3GPP is dedicated to developing the global unified technical specifications for mobile communications.
² AI-native technologies are fundamentally designed and built around AI from inception, rather than having AI added at a later stage.

As AI technology expands across various industries and 6G communication becomes in earnest standardized, this collaboration aims to utilize the two companies’ extensive technical expertise and business knowledge to accelerate AI research in communications.

The partnership will not only improve network quality but also establish a foundation for the market’s transition into the 6G era.

The technology under research and development by both companies is poised to significantly enhance service quality for users and network operational efficiency for service providers.

Currently, communication quality optimization is conducted at the cell site level of mobile communication base stations. Moving forward, the goal is to achieve user-level optimization through the application of AI. For example, users entering areas between cell boundaries or areas with weak signals will be able to stream videos without interruptions and access more stable communication services.

“I believe this technological cooperation between the two companies will speed up AI-powered innovation in the telecom industry, and it will realize the common vision for future communications such as 6G,” said Takaaki Sato, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at NTT DOCOMO.

“The joint research with NTT DOCOMO will play an integral role in developing AI technology for communication systems,” said Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun, President, Chief Technology Officer at Samsung Electronics and Head of Samsung Research. “By merging the technical capabilities and expertise of both companies, we will create synergy for next-generation communication technologies.”

Samsung and NTT DOCOMO have a long history of collaboration in mobile communication technology standardization within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).¹ The companies intend to leverage this joint technology research as an opportunity to deepen their cooperation and continue to work together for the advancement of future communication technologies.

¹ 3GPP is dedicated to developing the global unified technical specifications for mobile communications.

Researcher HyoungJin Choi from Samsung Research was named chair of the Coordination Group on IMT-2030 (6G) at the ITU-R Working Party 5D (WP 5D) meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland from June 25 to July 2. It will be Choi’s second time chairing a group at the ITU-R involved in 6G standardization as he had previously led the 6G Vision Group from 2021 to 2023.

The Coordination Group will be responsible for defining the process for developing 6G technology standards as well as creating the submission template for candidate 6G technologies and reviewing candidate proposals.

The standardization of next-generation communications involves a highly competitive and collaborative process among different stakeholders.

In November 2023, the ITU-R released the IMT-2030 Framework Recommendation, outlining the future and general direction of 6G. By 2026, the ITU-R aims to establish the technical performance requirements of 6G technologies. These requirements will serve as the foundation for candidate 6G technologies to be developed by standards organizations like the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)² and later submitted to the ITU-R. The ITU-R will then evaluate and coordinate the submissions, with technical specifications for 6G expected to be finalized by 2030.

With the IMT-2030 Framework Recommendation providing key performance indicators, usage scenarios and a roadmap for the standardization, spectrum and commercialization of 6G, the industry is now poised to embark on detailed standardization efforts. Moving forward, countries and companies will vie for leadership in setting 6G communications standards, including performance requirements and frequency bands.

Samsung will actively engage with influential standards organizations and continue developing innovative communications technologies en route to reinforcing its position as a global leader in 6G standardization.

¹ The ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICT) with memberships of 193 Member States and more than 1000 companies, universities, research institutes and international and regional organizations. The ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) is responsible for regulating and standardizing global radio communication.
² 3GPP is dedicated to developing the global unified technical specifications for mobile communications.

▲ (From left to right) Kyeongin Jeong, Jaeyeon Song and Narendranath Durga Tangudu appointed vice chairs in 3GPP.

Samsung Electronics announced that three Samsung researchers have been elected vice chairs in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the world’s largest telecommunications standard development organization. Following the appointment, the company now holds a total of seven officials in 3GPP — two chairs and five vice chairs.

Since its establishment in 1998, 3GPP has united telecommunication companies and organizations around the world, including Samsung, Qualcomm, Apple, Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei and more.

Newly-elected researcher Kyeongin Jeong from Samsung Research America, Samsung’s advanced research organization, has been appointed vice chair for 3GPP’s Radio Access Network Working Group 2 (RAN WG2). This group is responsible for developing the radio communication protocol standard between 5G handsets and base stations.

Additionally, Jaeyeon Song from Samsung Research and Narendranath Durga Tangudu from Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore have been re-elected as vice chairs following the successful completion of their two-year terms.

Jaeyeon Song will continue to serve as vice chair of 3GPP’s Service and System Aspects Working Group 4 (SA WG4), a group focused on advancing technology to support immersive media services, including video streaming and extended reality based on 5G. Narendranath Durga Tangudu will remain vice chair of 3GPP’s Core Network and Terminals Working Group 3 (CT WG3), a group focused on developing the open interface standards that expand 5G networks to third parties, including internet service providers.

In May 2023, Younsun Kim and Andrew Bennett of Samsung Research were appointed chairmen of 3GPP’s Radio Access Network Working Group 1 (RAN WG1) and Service and System Aspects Working Group 2 (SA WG2), respectively.

Through its established leadership in 3GPP, Samsung is set to be at the forefront of technological innovation across the entire telecommunications industry. Beyond the 5G-Advanced standard that is currently in development, Samsung has prepared a solid foundation for 6G, which will be created in cooperation with 3GPP member companies for commercialization around 2030.

Established in 1998, 3GPP is dedicated to developing the global unified standard for mobile communications. 3GPP is comprised of companies and organizations around the world — including Samsung, Qualcomm, Apple, Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei and more.

Younsun Kim and Andrew Bennett from Samsung Research, Samsung’s advanced R&D hub, have been appointed as the Chairs of 3GPP’s Radio Access Network Working Group 1 (RAN WG1) and Service and System Aspects Working Group 2 (SA WG2), respectively.

Younsun Kim was first appointed as the Chair of RAN WG1 in May 2021, and has been entrusted with the role again after completing his two-year term. Andrew Bennett has been elected the Chair of SA WG2 after he served as the group’s vice chair during four years.

As RAN WG1 and SA WG2 are fundamental to 3GPP, the two chairs are expected to play an important role in developing standards for 5G-Advanced, the next version of 5G and preparation of the next generation of mobile communications (i.e., 6G). RAN WG1 is responsible for the development of technical specifications for the physical layer of radio access network. SA WG2 is responsible for 5G system architecture standards.

“The two researchers being appointed as the chairs of key 3GPP Working Groups is a reflection of Samsung’s discernible global leadership in developing mobile communications standards,” said Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun, CTO, Samsung Electronics. “Going forward, Samsung will proactively contribute to the standard development for 5G-Advanced, the next evolution of 5G technology and 6G.”

“3GPP is developing the standard for 5G-Advanced in order to further improve 5G technology. We’ll make an effort to make sure that the 5G-Advanced standard incorporates innovations that can have crucial impacts on consumers’ experiences,” Kim said.

“We’ll work together with 3GPP member companies for, not just the 5G-Advanced standard that is currently being developed, but also the preparation of 6G. We expect 6G discussion would start around the mid-2020s to provide 6G networks and devices fulfilling the demands of our society around 2030,” said Bennett.

Besides the company’s hardware-bound RAN solutions, the development process of Samsung’s fully virtualized RAN (vRAN) was also verified by the NESAS. The company’s vRAN has been widely deployed to Tier-1 U.S. operator commercial networks, and selected to power Europe’s extensive virtual network project.

To pass the assessment, Samsung’s product development and lifecycle management processes for its network solutions underwent an independent audit to confirm how security is integrated into their design, development, implantation and maintenance processes.

The NESAS provides an industry-wide security assurance framework and defines the security requirements for product development and lifecycle processes, using 3GPP-defined security test cases. The audit of Samsung’s networks solutions, completed in July 2021, enables the company to increase the transparency of its entire development process, reaffirming its commitment to network security.

“We are pleased to be recognized by the NESAS security audit for our dedication to building secure and reliable networks,” said Sohyong Chong, Senior Vice President and Head of S/W R&D, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “As a trusted partner to global operators, we will continue to ensure our product development and full lifecycle management processes of network equipment to achieve the highest security standards. This will be essential as the world evolves to a 5G framework that meets the high-performance and security demands of customers.”

This NESAS assessment follows Samsung’s continued achievements in network security, which include receiving the Common Criteria (CC) certification for its 5G solutions and the ISO/IEC 27001 certification earlier this year.

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.

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a group of standards organizations that developed the 5G telecommunications standards already commercialized worldwide, plans to develop 5G-Advanced (Rel-18*) from 2022 to enhance 5G performance including increased telecommunications coverage, and to expand new 5G services, such as Extended Reality (XR) media and integration with satellite communications.
* Rel-18 (5G-Advanced Standard; from March 2022): 5G evolution standards before moving into 6G

Jaeyeon Song, Principal Engineer at Samsung Research (the company’s advanced R&D hub that leads the development of future technologies for its Consumer Electronics division and IT & Mobile Communications division), and Narendranath Durga Tangudu, Staff Engineer at Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore, were elected as vice-chairs of 3GPP SA WG4 (Service and System Aspects Working Group 4) and 3GPP CT WG3 (Core Network and Terminals Working Group 3), respectively.

3GPP SA4 is a Working Group that develops technologies for 5G-based video streaming and delivery of immersive media, such as XR. Dr. Jaeyeon Song was elected as vice-chair in recognition of her activities and expertise associated with MPEG (which develops video codec and media systems standards) and ATSC (which develops digital broadcasting standards), both of which work closely with 3GPP SA4.

The 3GPP CT3 Working Group focuses on open interface standards that open up 5G networks to third parties, such as Internet service providers (ISPs). The Working Group recognized Narendranath Durga Tangudu’s achievements in edge computing standards, which enables low latency transmission when 5G networks are connected to ISPs.

“In order to enable 5G-based differentiated services, mobile communication systems should evolve in such a way that it can support new media such as XR, and also that it can closely interact with external services,” said Sunghyun Choi, SVP & Head of the Advanced Communications Research Center at Samsung Research. “Along with the reinforcement of our leadership within 3GPP this year, we will continue to strengthen our efforts in developing next-generation mobile communications technologies as well as technologies that will expand the 5G ecosystem’s horizon.”

In addition to the appointments of vice-chairs in the SA4 and CT3 Working Groups, Samsung had earlier secured the chair position in the RAN1 Working Group in May this year. Samsung is set to be at the forefront of technological innovations that will improve 5G performance as well as technological developments that will help expand the 5G ecosystem. Based on its leadership established in 3GPP, Samsung is planning to lead 5G-Advanced (i.e., next-generation 5G) standardization, while preparing to take the initiative in future 6G standards.

3GPP is a consortium of seven regional telecommunication standards organizations established in 1998 to develop a unified global standard for mobile telecommunications. RAN WG1, the largest working group within the project with more than 600 delegates, is responsible for the development of the physical layer specifications of the 3GPP radio access technology. The working group has been overseeing the development of wireless communications technologies such as OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing), MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), cellular IoT (Internet-of-Things), and V2X (Vehicle-to-everything) for LTE and 5G specifications.

The working group is currently working on several technical areas to evolve 5G. Such technical work includes improvement of 5G coverage, reduction of power consumption in 5G devices, and enabling of new 5G-based services over satellite link and unlicensed spectrum.

Younsun Kim brings 20 years of experience in the field of wireless communications standards. Since 2017, he has been serving as the Vice-Chair of RAN WG1.

Samsung Electronics currently holds a total of five Chair and Vice-Chair positions in 3GPP (two Chairs, three Vice-Chairs). In addition to Younsun Kim, Suresh Chitturi, a Principal Engineer at Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore is currently the Chair of SA WG6 (Service and System Aspects Working Group 6). The company will continue its contribution to the wireless industry with its leadership in wireless technical standards and by driving the next stage of innovations for 5G-Advanced standards.

The deployment includes Samsung’s Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT) with multimedia broadcast capabilities, known as evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (eMBMS). This enables simultaneous transmission to up to 2,500 user devices per cell, which is more than twice the volume of devices supported by previous-generation technologies.

In this buildout, the PS-LTE network was also interconnected with the existing LTE-Maritime (LTE-M) and LTE-Railway (LTE-R) networks that were already operating in the 700MHz spectrum.

With nationwide coverage, the network serves as a unified platform that helps ensure interoperability among various public safety institutions. This delivers real-time accessibility and enhanced communications capabilities among public safety agencies and personnel in emergency situations.

“Samsung is proud to take part in building the world’s first nationwide PS-LTE network based on 3GPP standards in Korea, leveraging our end-to-end PS-LTE solutions,” said Seungil Kim, Vice President and Head of Korea Business, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “A reliable network is critical for real-time communication among multiple institutions in case of emergencies. We will continue to offer advanced PS-LTE solutions to bolster Korea’s PS-LTE network, meeting the highest standards for reliability, performance and security.”

Samsung was selected as a provider of end-to-end PS-LTE solutions, from infrastructure to devices, supporting the PS-LTE network buildout beginning in 2018, and completing deployment in March 2021.

With a proven track record of successful network deployments, Samsung continues to lead the advancement of next-generation public safety networks. Last year, Samsung demonstrated the world’s first Mission-Critical Push-to-X (MCPTX) video call on a cloud platform. The company is also leading the standardization of MCPTX over 5G.

For more information, please refer to Samsung’s whitepaper and infographic on mission-critical networks:

• Infographic: Mission-Critical Network in Korea – Captures the current mission-critical network landscape in Korea.
• Whitepaper: Mission-Critical Network Solutions – Highlights the key network components and features of mission-critical networks—including MCPTX, eMBMS and Land Mobile Radio (LMR) and MCPTX interworking function—all offered by Samsung.

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.

The next-generation core network enables operators to instantaneously install and swiftly deploy customized solutions and services. With this core network solution, operators will be able to utilize network resources more effectively. For instance, when the data traffic spikes, the operators will be able to move capacity to flexibly adapt to the sudden changes in their networks.

In addition, the two companies plan to discover new 5G use cases through the enhanced capabilities to efficiently deploy, provision and activate the new applications. From AR/VR and cloud gaming to autonomous driving and smart factory use cases, Samsung and SKT are building advanced network capabilities to enable the delivery of these new immersive capabilities to consumers, and increase the accessibility and deployment ease of 5G for enterprises, with private 5G networks.

“The next-generation cloud core network applied with SCP will increase customer benefits through accelerated adoption of 5G-based products and services,” said Jong-kwan Park, Vice President and Head of 5GX Technology Group of SKT. “We will continue to work closely with Samsung to develop breakthrough next-generation network technologies to realize innovative 5G use cases.”

“Samsung’s cloud native 5G core will enable operators to have flexible and reliable networks that will play a key role in delivering a myriad of 5G use cases,” said Wonil Roh, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Product Strategy, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “With SKT, Samsung will continue to develop cutting edge technology to enable more 5G use cases, as well as bring additional values to our enterprise customers.”

Samsung’s cloud native 5G core offers modularized and containerized Network Functions (NFs), enabling new services and features to be launched quickly in a commercial network, while reducing the operating costs. By improving agility and manageability in the network, new applications can be introduced more efficiently. The 5G core solution from Samsung allows SKT to upgrade its network more readily, ensuring it always has the latest features and capabilities.

SKT has developed cloud native Service Communication Proxy (SCP), which enables operators to manage their 5G networks more effectively and efficiently. SCP intelligently controls communication of NFs based on traffic status and behavior. That is, it allows only necessary NFs to communicate with each other depending on the network traffic, thereby saving resources.  Samsung and SKT have successfully completed the interoperability trial between SKT’s cloud native SCP and Samsung’s cloud native 5G core, and were able to prove that, with SCP, the communication efficiency among NFs have improved by 30%.

Samsung and SKT signed an agreement last year to jointly advance 5G and develop for the next-generation communications. The companies will continue to deliver the best class network services to users through collaborative development and commercialization of network technologies, devices, and smart solutions.

Samsung is a pioneer in the successful delivery of 5G end-to-end solutions including chipsets, radios, and core network technologies. Samsung has been at the forefront of virtualized core (vCore) solution development for 4G and 5G, starting with the commercialization of 4G vCore in 2015 and 5G NSA vCore in 2018. Samsung is leading the path to commercialization of 5G SA core.

About SK Telecom

SK Telecom is Korea’s leading ICT company, driving innovations in the areas of mobile communications, media, security, commerce and mobility. Armed with cutting-edge ICT including AI and 5G, the company is ushering in a new level of convergence to deliver unprecedented value to customers. As the global 5G pioneer, SK Telecom is committed to realizing the full potential of 5G through ground-breaking services that can improve people’s lives, transform businesses, and lead to a better society.

SK Telecom boasts unrivaled leadership in the Korean mobile market with over 30 million subscribers, which account for nearly 50 percent of the market. The company now has 48 ICT subsidiaries and annual revenues approaching KRW 17.7 trillion.

For more information, please contact skt_press@sk.com or visit the LinkedIn page www.linkedin.com/company/sk-telecom.

During the test, both companies have successfully achieved 2.65Gbps in data speeds on the 5G smartphone, combining both 1.5Gbps in 5G using 3.5GHz frequency (100MHz bandwidth) with 1.15Gbps in LTE using 1.8GHz, 2.1GHz, and 2.6GHz frequencies (65MHz bandwidth) all of which are for commercial use by SK Telecom.

The test, carried out at Samsung Electronics located in Suwon, Korea, used Samsung’s commercial 4G and 5G NR end-to-end networks solutions which have been provided to the operator’s current service. In addition, companies used Samsung’s virtual core (vCore) that supports simultaneous 4G and 5G as well as its Galaxy S10 5G, Samsung’s first 5G smartphone which was unveiled last month.

SK Telecom, in particular, will be able to boost the overall transmission data speed by 80% by leveraging the 4G and 5G dual connectivity. It will allow users who are staying in the 5G service coverage to download UHD videos of 2GB in just 6 seconds, and large video content such as 4K VR video of 10GB in less than 30 seconds.

The two companies demonstrated the delivery of multi-gigabit speeds for 5G device, with a focus on seamless user experiences. Wherever mobile service subscribers are without being limited to 4G or 5G service areas, they can expect seamless, consistent, and stable mobile services. In the early stages of 5G era, the combined capabilities of 4G and 5G networks are important forces for mobile carriers to maximize the characteristics of the 5G network – ultra-fast speed, low-latency, and massive-connectivity by leveraging widely deployed 4G network coverage.

The success of the demonstration by SK Telecom and Samsung signifies a blueprint of early 5G deployment, spotlighting a rapid, stable and effective path to 5G service using a dual 4G and 5G approach.

This success is part of an ongoing collaboration between SK Telecom and Samsung of many years. Pushing forward early 5G commercialization, the companies have succeeded in the world’s first 4G and 5G interworking back in 2017 (Link) and world’s first 5G Next-Generation Core (5G NC) trial in June 2018 (Link), which featured control and user planes separation and VNFs implementation based on 3GPP release 15 standard. These joint forces have led Samsung to become a major partner for SK Telecom to successfully launch 5G mobility commercial service in Korea, December 1^st 2018.

About SK Telecom

SK Telecom is the largest mobile operator in Korea with nearly 50 percent of the market share. As the pioneer of all generations of mobile networks, the company has launched the fifth generation (5G) network on December 1, 2018. The company is not only leading innovations in the field of mobile network, but is also creating unprecedented value in areas such as media, security and commerce. In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, SK Telecom will inspire the world, building a future beyond expectations.

The IEEE Grade of Fellow is conferred by the IEEE Board of Directors upon a person with an outstanding record of accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest. The total number selected in any one year cannot exceed 0.1 percent of the total voting membership. Among the membership, IEEE Fellow is the highest grade and is recognized by the technical community as a prestigious honor and an important career achievement.

Master Lee is a representative expert of Samsung in the research and standardization of mobile communication technologies. He has made tremendous contributions on 3G, 4G, and 5G over the last 18 years, including incorporation of essential technologies into standards. From February 2003 to August 2008, he was a Vice Chairman of RAN1 working group of 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a global telecommunications standards organization, and led the standardization of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technologies.

In developing 5G standards, Master Lee has been representing Samsung and has made a crucial role to set up the standardization plan and to develop detailed standards. The 5G network is currently in the process of commercialization and can be characterized by the ultra-high speed of 20 Gbps, ultra-low latency of 0.001 second, and ultra-reliability of 99.999 percent. Because of these advances, 5G is expected to help provide unprecedented communication quality and create new services such as smart factory and vehicular communication.

Master Lee received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea, in 1993, 1995, and 2000, respectively. He is currently leading the research and standardization of 5G technologies in the Standard Research Team of Samsung Research.

“I am honored to be named IEEE Fellow as the recognition of my contributions during the last 18 years for evolution and standardization of mobile communications from 3G to 5G” said Master Lee. “I will continue to devote myself to the commercialization and further enhancement of 5G technologies as well as advanced research toward 6G.”

Samsung Electronics has other IEEE Fellows who were named in the past years as follows: Vice Chairman and CEO Kinam Kim of DS Division, Executive Vice President Daniel Lee of Samsung Research New York AI Center, and Vice President Jianzhong Zhang of Samsung Research America (SRA).

Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced that it has developed Exynos Modem 5100, the industry’s first 5G modem that is fully compatible with 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 15 (Rel.15), the most up-to-date standard specification for 5G New Radio (5G-NR). Built on power-efficient 10-nanometer (nm) process technology, the new modem also supports legacy radio access technologies designed into a single chip.

“Samsung’s leadership in communication technologies and market-proven knowledge allowed us to develop the industry’s first 5G modem, the Exynos Modem 5100, which fully complies with the latest 3GPP standards,” said Dr. Inyup Kang, president and head of System LSI Business at Samsung Electronics. “As the industry prepares the shift toward 5G, Samsung will continue to drive the growth of innovative ideas and new services in mobile applications and other emerging industries.”

Samsung successfully conducted an over-the-air (OTA) 5G-NR data call test under a wireless environment utilizing a 5G base station and 5G end-user equipment prototype embedded with Exynos Modem 5100. As the test simulated real-world cellular network conditions, this will ensure faster development and commercialization of 5G mobile devices that adopt this new modem. Samsung is also working closely with a number of global mobile carriers and partners to quickly bring 5G mobile communications to the market.

The Exynos Modem 5100 supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave spectrums specified in 3GPP’s 5G standard as well as legacy networks, including 2G GSM/CDMA, 3G WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, HSPA, and 4G LTE, with a single chip solution. As 5G is expected to be first deployed over existing network infrastructures, commercial implementation will benefit from the single-chip design that maximizes data transmission efficiency and reliability between other communication networks.

The modem delivers a maximum downlink speed of up to 2-gigabits per second (Gbps) in 5G’s sub-6-gigahertz (GHz) settings and 6Gbps in mmWave settings, which are about 1.7 and five times the data transfer speeds of its predecessor respectively. Fast and stable data communication can also be secured in 4G networks with the downlink speed of 1.6Gbps.

5G’s capability to transmit large-capacity data and real-time low-latency communication is expected to bring new user experiences not only in mobile but also in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT), ultra-high resolution videos, holograms, real-time artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous driving.

Exynos Modem 5100 is also offered with radio frequency IC (RFIC), Envelope Tracking (ET) and power management IC (PMIC) solutions, and will be available to customers by the end of 2018.
More information about Samsung’s Exynos products can be found at: http://www.samsung.com/exynos.

5G NC operates independently of the LTE network and makes new features available. 5G NC was developed with a new service-based architecture that introduces software features, such as Control and User Planes Separation, Network Slicing and Virtualized Network Functions (VNF) deployed on containers, the latest in virtualization technology. This is the first trial of 5G NC in the world that implements VNFs based on 3GPP standards-compliant, service-based architecture.

As diverse services with complex requirements continue to emerge, the new 5G NC is able to identify service types and process the traffic accordingly. For example, the transmission of sensitive financial and biometric information can be protected through advanced security functions, such as quantum cryptography. In addition, ultra-high-resolution images can be transmitted faster, while ultra-low latency can be guaranteed for telemedicine.

Moving beyond proprietary technologies, the 5G NC control plane includes the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) international standard, which has been newly adopted by 3GPP. HTTP enables a seamless connection between the core network and web-based services and allows third parties such as start-ups to create new 5G services easily. As a result, they can provide an optimal service to customers, leveraging network-related information, such as location and data, throughout.

5G NC is also characterized by its ability to guarantee both operational stability and unprecedented user experience. This is achieved by automatically selecting the best path between device and internet and by adding intelligent automatic management to restore the network instantaneously if issues occur.

“Based on this trial, SK Telecom has successfully verified the essential core network technologies for 5G commercialization,” said Park Jin-hyo, Executive Vice President and Head of ICT R&D Center at SK Telecom. “We will continue to enhance our technology development to enable truly innovative 5G services.”

“The completion of 5G NC with SK Telecom is a significant step towards 5G commercialization,” said Paul Kyungwhoon Cheun, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “The tests have shown how fast, flexible, efficient and user-centric the network can become with Next-Generation Core.”

SK Telecom and Samsung have jointly submitted more than 30 5G NC contributions to 3GPP standardization, and have completed several 5G NC proof-of-concept activities. The two companies are collaborating to develop and verify 5G NC solutions, expected to be deployed in 2019.

In February 2017, as part of its broader commercial 5G portfolio Samsung Electronics announced the readiness of its NC solution and a library of 5G VNFs. The solution has since been upgraded to integrate new features defined in the 3GPP standards Release-15. It supports both 4G and 5G core functions.

3GPP TSG #80 Plenary Meeting has approved the completion of the standalone (SA) Release 15 5G specifications. After the release of the 5G NR specifications for non-standalone (NSA) operation in Dec. 2017, another essential step of standardization of 5G has been successfully completed. Now, the whole industry is taking the final sprint towards 5G commercialization. The completion of SA specifications which complements the NSA specifications, not only gives 5G NR the ability of independent deployment, but also brings a brand new end-to-end network architecture, making 5G a facilitator and an accelerator during the intelligent information and communications technology improvement process of enterprise customers and vertical industries. New business models will be enabled and a new era where everything is interconnected will be opened up for both mobile operators and industrial partners.

More than 600 delegates from the world’s major telecom operators, network, terminals and chipset vendors, internet companies and other vertical industry companies have witnessed this historic moment for 5G. Balázs Bertényi, Chairman of 3GPP TSG RAN, said: “The freeze of Standalone 5G NR radio specifications represents a major milestone in the quest of the wireless industry towards realizing the holistic 5G vision. 5G NR Standalone systems not only dramatically increase the mobile broadband speeds and capacity, but also open the door for new industries beyond telecommunications that are looking to revolutionize their ecosystem through 5G.”

Erik Guttman, Chairman of 3GPP TSG SA, adds: “The agreed completion of the stage 3 freeze milestone for the 5G standalone system has great significance. The 5G System specification has now reached its official stage of completion, thanks to the intense efforts of hundreds of engineers over the past three years. A special acknowledgment is due to those who led this remarkable effort in diverse committees. 5G promises a broad expansion of telecommunications, as an ever more central component of our economies, societies and individual activities. The 5G System opens the way for commercialization of services based on the New Radio and 5G Core Network and their advanced extensible capabilities. The new system provides the foundation for ongoing specialization for support of new business sectors, for unlike 4G and past generations, 5G supports the very specific requirements and individual service characteristics of diverse communications. Already, 3GPP activities have begun to leverage the 5G system to realize opportunities in areas such as industrial automation. This activity will intensify in the months and years to come, in increasingly many sectors, all on the foundation of the work that has been achieved on this occasion.”

Georg Mayer, Chairman of 3GPP TSG CT, said: “Two years ago, 5G was seen as a vision or even just a hype – with the closing of Rel-15 3GPP has made 5G a reality within a very short time. The outcome is an amazing set of standards that will not only provide higher data rates and bandwidth to end customers but which is open and flexible enough to satisfy the communication needs of different industries — 5G will be the integration platform for heterogeneous businesses. All this could only be achieved thanks to the willingness of the stakeholders to work together on a common goal and due to the effectiveness of 3GPPs structure and processes. Rel-15 only marks the first step of the 5G story and 3GPP will further develop it into the future, aligning it to the needs of customers and industries.” It is firmly believed by the whole industry that, after 34 months of hard and efficient work, the carefully crafted and elaborately designed 5G specifications, a fruit of close collaborations and collective wisdom, will surely meet the high expectations.

China Mobile

Mr. Li Zhengmao, Vice President of China Mobile, said: “The name of the host place, La Jolla, means “the jewel” in Spanish. As the name of the host place, 5G has been viewed as a “jewel” from its birth and bears the expectations and dreams of the entire mobile communications industry to provide faster and smoother mobile broadband services and more comprehensive and more effective communication solutions to vertical industries. The whole industry will carry the momentum to accelerate the maturity of the 5G end-to-end system, create a new ecology of cross-industry integration, cultivate a new model for 5G development, and make greater contributions to the development of the global digital economy.”

Anritsu

Takashi Seike, the Senior Vice President of Anritsu, said: “We are very pleased to see the next frontier of wireless communication coming closer to reality by the completion of Standalone 5G NR specification. Anritsu is committed to contribute to commercial success of 5G by ensuring device and service quality through close collaboration with customers and partners.”

Asia Pacific Telecom

Mr. Fang-Ming Lu, Chairman of Asia Pacific Telecom, said: “The complete of Rel-15 NR specification opens the door for introducing more intelligence into the world. We are very pleased to continue cooperating with global industry partner to explore new applications of 5G technology. More specifically, Asia Pacific Telecom is willing to create 5G+8K eco-system to enrich our digital life and provide Industrial IoT services to offer more innovative solutions for society.”

AT&T

“Commercial 5G services are closer than ever with the completion of 3GPP Release 15,” said Hank Kafka, VP Access Architecture and Standards. “This milestone will allow for more advanced testing using standards-compliant equipment and paves the way for our commercial 5G launch in a dozen cities later this year. We are proud to have been part of the process as the industry participants in 3GPP came together to achieve the acceleration, and now completion, of the first phase of 5G specifications.”

British Telecom

“BT recognises another significant milestone on the path of 5G.” said Neil J. McRae, Chief Architect at BT, “This step provides the crucial foundation to enable the power of 5G to deliver on low latency, scale and high availability- the foundation that our customers need to usher in the fourth industrial revolution and the era of ultra collaboration.”

CAICT

Ms. Wang Zhiqin, Deputy Director of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), said: “The on-time delivery of the first version of 5G specifications does not come easily. It is the result of wisdom and sweat of people who has devoted themselves to 5G standardization. The new end-to-end business capability of 5G will become an essential engine to open up an era where everything is inter-connected. IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group is going to work with industrial partners to promote the successful deployment and development of 5G.”

CATT

Chen Shanzhi, the Vice President of Datang Telecom Group (CATT), said: “The success of 5G NR first full specification comes from the joint efforts of the industry. SA operation can be regarded as a prerequisite of 5G supporting both mobile internet and IoT, and also an accelerator for 5G successful commercialization and even a multiplier for 5G showing its social value. Therefore, the successful completion of SA specification has laid a foundation for the overall launch of 5G industry. With 5G commercialization entering the final sprint phase, Datang Telecom Group will continuously endeavor to promote 5G into global commercial success.”

China Telecom

China Telecom EVP, Dr. Liu Guiqing said: “China Telecom is proud of being important part of the team for completing this historical 5G milestone. With this Rel-15 SA specification frozen, China Telecom plans to lead the efforts on verifying the specified performance and optimizing the innovative features through field trials in many cities. In parallel to the verification efforts of Rel-15, China Telecom looks forward to working with others in 3GPP to define Rel-16 that is critical for URLLC applications. To get ready for commercialization, China Telecom will work closely with the vendors and partners to promote 5G ecosystem and to explore new applications and business cases.”

China Unicom

Dr. Shao Guanglu, China Unicom EVP, said: “The 5G standard completed at this meeting is result of sincere cooperation of the whole industry. It is the result of wisdom and sweat of experts in communications, and carries high expectation and dreams of the whole society to form a more intelligent world. The completion of specifications is a milestone for 5G commercialization. 5G can meet various business requirements in different scenarios. It can not only provide high speed wireless access, but also enable vertical industry applications. It help us carry out the national strategies such as Internet+ and Made in China 2025. China Unicom will work together with the whole industry to build a good ecosystem and create a new dimension for 5G development, with the “five new” attitude”.

Chunghwa Telecom

Mr. Kuo-Feng Lin, SEVP and CTO, Chunghwa Telecom said: “We are delighted to see R15 5G NR specifications have been successfully and timely completed. It not only sets a remarkable milestone for the global ecosystem towards 5G eMBB commercialization, but also heralds the start of R16 5G specifications towards broader mMTC and uRLLC opportunities. We appreciate the efforts and contributions from 3GPP colleagues and stakeholders. Chunghwa Telecom will continue cooperating with the whole industrial players to enter the 5G wonderland.”

Deutsche Telekom

“We welcome the on-time completion of the Standalone Architecture with a cloud-friendly core network as part of the Rel-15 3GPP standard. This is another crucial milestone to realize a full end-to-end 5G system,” says Alex Jinsung Choi, SVP Research & Technology Innovation, Deutsche Telekom. “Deutsche Telekom recently implemented the world’s first non-standalone architecture trial in a commercial network in Germany. We now look forward to continuing our cross-industry collaboration to accelerate the 5G ecosystem development and explore the applications of reduced latency and network slicing, so that we can bring the full benefits of 5G to our customers.”

DISH Network

“Congratulations to 3GPP, we are excited to be a part of the completion of this important milestone,” said Mariam Sorond, Vice President of Technology Development at DISH Network.  “5G is set to be a paradigm shift for the industry and the completion of standalone (SA) 5G new radio (NR) specifications will enable new entrants to usher in innovative solutions.  We look forward to contribute to future milestones which enable the full potential of 5G to address massive connectivity and solutions for other verticals beyond broadband.”

Ericsson

Erik Ekudden, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Ericsson, says: “5G is fast approaching commercial reality thanks to the dedicated, industry-wide standardization work lead by 3GPP, we together have accelerated the delivery of the standard well ahead of time. Together with our ecosystem partners we will sustain this momentum and ensure that communication service providers can successfully launch 3GPP standard-based 5G networks.”

Fujitsu Limited

Masayuki Seno, SVP and Head of Network Products Business Unit at Fujitsu, said: “Fujitsu is very proud to reach a major milestone by successfully completing standalone (SA) 5G NR specifications together with the world’s mobile operators and vendors. The 5G network is surely the foundation for the secure exchange of information between trusted communities in the hyper-connected world. Fujitsu will strive to provide 5G network products and connected services to co-create human centric innovation through digital technologies with our customers and partners all over the world.”

Huawei

Yang Chaobin, president of Huawei 5G product line, said: “With the development of 5G NR standardization, we are pleased to cooperate with global organizations to reach a great milestone that 3GPP 5G NR specification of Standalone(SA) have been completed, which is a critical step forward for the 5G standardization and industry ecosystem. Huawei will positively invest on the research and development of 5G key technology and product, continue cooperating with global industry partner, and promote the implementation of 5G commercial deployment and health industry ecosystem worldwide.”

Intel

Asha Keddy, Vice President and General Manager Next Generation and Standards, Intel: “As the world prepares for 5G network deployments later this year, Intel is proud to have worked alongside our industrial partners to complete the standalone (SA) 5G new radio (NR) specification. This new air interface is another major step in our journey to power this first wave of 5G.  Intel, with our end to end network, cloud and client focus, and our partners are reimagining the network to deliver a true convergence of computing and communications.”

InterDigital

Dr. Robert DiFazio, Vice President, InterDigital Labs: “The completion of the 5G NR standalone specification and indeed all the new technologies that will make up 5G are the culmination of many years of work from all the companies and hundreds of engineers at 3GPP, and InterDigital is proud to have worked alongside them. InterDigital has been committed to playing a leading role in mobile industry standards across multiple generations of wireless, and we are excited to continue contributing our best technology as 5G deploys and brings amazing connectivity and economic opportunity throughout the world.”

Keysight Technologies

Satish Dhanasekaran, senior vice president of Keysight Technologies, and president of the Communications Solutions Group (CSG): “We are excited to enable the industry at a threshold of 5G acceleration and commercialization. The completion of the standalone (SA) 5G new radio (NR) specification marks a distinct milestone and offers a playbook for a connected ecosystem to move forward, in making 5G a reality and unlocking huge potential for society. Keysight’s is engaged with market leaders, contributions to the 3GPP standardization development and providing scalable 5G test and measurement solutions all the way from L1 to L7.”

KDDI

Mr. Yoshiaki Uchida, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Director of KDDI, said: “We are proud to have played a part in completion of 5G standardization as one of the leaderships of 3GPP TSG. With this successful completion of the 5G NR specification, KDDI will continue our collaboration with various business partners and prepare for the commercial 5G service launch in 2020.”

KT

Dr. Hongbeom Jeon, Executive Vice President and Head of KT’s Infra Lab., said: “Ever since our successful 5G trial at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February, we have sought to elevate 5G standards in 3GPP to a higher level of excellence. KT greatly appreciates the timely establishment of the full 5G specifications and will continue to lead the global efforts for the coming commercial launch of 5G.”

Asha Keddy, Vice President and General Manager Next Generation and Standards, Intel: “As the world prepares for 5G network deployments later this year, Intel is proud to have worked alongside our industrial partners to complete the standalone (SA) 5G new radio (NR) specification. This new air interface is another major step in our journey to power this first wave of 5G.  Intel, with our end to end network, cloud and client focus, and our partners are reimagining the network to deliver a true convergence of computing and communications.”

KYOCERA

Masahiro Inagaki, Senior Executive Officer, General Manager of Corporate R&D Group at Kyocera said: “The completion of the 5G NR SA specification marks a key turning point in the evolution of the next generation of wireless technology. Kyocera believes the new technology will fundamentally change the efficiency of network resource utilization, deployment flexibility and support of various applications with different QoS requirements such as IoT and V2X, some of which require high efficiency, ultra-reliable, low latency operations.”

Lenovo

Dr. Yong Rui, CTO&SVP of Lenovo Group, said: “The 5G has arrived at one of its key milestones, namely, the 5G NR SA specs has just been released in the 3GPP Plenary. The game-changing 5G has extremely broad implications for the telecommunications as well as many other industries that affect the most exciting and promising fields of the modern society for years to come. Lenovo has been working closely with key industry partners like China Mobile to accelerate the commercialization of 5G technologies to bring their full benefits to both our consumers and clients.”

LG Electronics

“LG is proud to be one of the key contributors toward the timely and successful completion of the 5G Phase-1 standard including 5G NR Stand Alone specifications, an important milestone to extend the application of 5G technologies to diverse deployment environments and emerging vertical sectors,” said Dr. I.P. Park, Chief Technology Officer of LG Electronics. “We are ready to deliver 5G-based intelligent mobile products and convergence services to worldwide markets and look forward to making significant contributions to the evolution of 5G standards.”

LG Uplus

Joosik Choi, executive vice president and Head of 5G Strategy Planning, said: “We would like to thank to 3GPP and all companies for great effort on 5G SA NR standard, Release 15. Based on this standard, LG Uplus is preparing for the successful deployment and commercialization of 5G in 2019. We will contribute to the continued development of 5G NR.”

MediaTek

MediaTek Senior Vice President Cheng-Te Chuang said: “The completion of standalone 5G NR specifications is another remarkable milestone in the progress of 5G and the goal of full coverage 5G SA networks. MediaTek is deeply involved in the standardization of 5G core technologies. With the completion of both SA and NSA specifications, MediaTek’s commercial-ready 5G chipset is getting mature and MediaTek will be one of the first-tier suppliers in 5G commercial markets.”

Mitsubishi Electric

Dr. Takashi Nishimura, executive officer in charge of Communication Systems Group, said: “It is our great pleasure to be a member of the group that has created a new 5G standard. Mitsubishi Electric wishes to contribute to the realization of a prosperous society that simultaneously achieves “sustainability” and “safety, security and comfort”, making the best use of the strengths of our existing businesses as well as the opportunities presented by this recently developed 5G standard.”

NEC

Atsuo Kawamura, Executive Vice President and Head of the Network Service Business Unit at NEC, said: “NEC is proud to have contributed to the completion of 5G NR standardization. This is a significant milestone towards successful commercialization of 5G, which will enable new value and services through its secure and intelligent technologies. Going forward, NEC will continue to develop and provide innovative 5G solutions for society that enable advanced communications and a diversified range of sophisticated services.”

Nokia

Marcus Weldon, President of Bell Labs and Corporate Chief Technology Officer, Nokia, said: “Nokia is proud to have played a significant role in achieving this milestone with excellent global industry cooperation. This milestone connects the 5G radio (NR) to the new 5G Core Network, in line with Nokia’s Future X vision. It enables exciting possibilities for the digital transformation that 5G will bring us for a connected world. A whole new horizon is available to create a digital economy with vertical industries beyond mobile broadband. Nokia will continue to leverage our unique 5G E2E capabilities and bring this vision into reality together with industry partners.”

NTT DOCOMO

Dr. Hiroshi Nakamura, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, NTT DOCOMO said: “I’m very glad that the first release of 5G specifications has been completed. This completion is the starting point of sustainable 5G development and expansion of 5G global ecosystem by leveraging unified NSA and SA. NTT DOCOMO has been collaborating with many partners across various industries to co-create 5G services through activities such as ‘DOCOMO 5G Open Partner Program’ and ‘DOCOMO 5G Open Labs’. We believe that the completion of the specifications will accelerate open innovation that will bring about solutions to social issues and new style creation for richer future for all. NTT DOCOMO will continue the collaborative effort aiming to spark the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

OPPO

Levin Liu, VP of OPPO & Director of OPPO Research Center, said, “The completion of 5G Standalone (SA) specifications marks the milestone where 5G NR truly becomes a complete system and thus is able to take full advantage of its high speed, low latency features. OPPO is willing to cooperate closely with China Mobile and other operator partners to provide richer and unprecedented user experience to end-users globally by introducing 5G capable devices at the earliest time.”

Orange

Arnaud Vamparys, SVP Radio Networks in Orange, said: “Orange welcomes the successful development of this new 5G standard release. This ensures more flexibility and freedom for our future 5G roll-outs, enabling 5G autonomous deployment, depending on each country’s specific context and corresponding strategy.”

Panasonic

Yoshiyuki Miyabe, the Senior Managing Executive Officer and CTO, Panasonic, said: “Panasonic is pleased this set for the 5G NR standard has been completed. 5G can be used not only for enhancement of voice and visual communication but also for new services such as IoT and autonomous driving, which ultimately contribute to resolving social issues. We would like to contribute to achieving ‘A Better Life, A Better World’ using 5G.”

Qualcomm Technologies

“We are proud to have worked with our industry counterparts in 3GPP RAN as well as in 3GPP CT and SA to achieve this milestone of including standalone 5G NR operation as part of the 5G global standard,” said Cristiano Amon, President, Qualcomm. “In addition to our leadership in developing and contributing new ideas and directions to 3GPP, Qualcomm Technologies is putting tremendous effort into making NR commercial through our 3GPP 5G NR spec compliant prototypes and interoperability testing and with the development of 5G NR modem chipsets which support both NSA and SA operation. We will continue to work with the industry to drive the evolution of 5G technologies as well as the worldwide commercialization of both SA and NSA 5G networks and mobile devices.”

Rohde-Schwarz

Mr. Andreas Pauly, EVP of R&S and head of Test and Measurement division said: “This is an important step of 5G development. In the process of 5G industrialization, Standardization is the cornerstone while test provides assurance. As a leading wireless test vendor, R&S participated in all stages of 5G standard development, and cooperated with industry chain partners to complete all 5G trial test. With formal freeze on 5G NR SA standard, R&S  intensifies close work with all partners in 5G new technology and various 5G application fields, provides innovative test solutions to meet 5G challenges, and contributes to the prosperity of future 5G industry.”

Samsung Electronics

Seunghwan Cho, Executive Vice President of Samsung Research, said: “We are very pleased to see the completion of the first release of 5G standard. Samsung has pioneered breakthrough technologies for 5G and has been actively collaborating with key partners to achieve this milestone. We will continue our efforts for the commercial success of 5G and deliver a new level of mobile experience to everyone’s life.”

Sharp

Yoshiro Nakano, BU President, Mobile Communication BU at Sharp said: “I’m delighted that 3GPP has completed their work on global 5G specifications today. Utilizing the 5G standards, SHARP will accelerate development of innovative technologies, such as “8K” (ultra-high-definition imaging) and “AIoT” (people-oriented IoT), aiming to contribute to people’s rich lives and a sustainable society.”

SK Telecom

“It is a significant step that enables new levels of mobile innovation with 5G technology by taking full advantage of new 5G NR and 5GC features. We are proud to be one of the key contributors of this important milestone,” said Jinhyo Park, EVP, Head of ICT R&D Division, SK Telecom, “Timely completion of the 5G NR SA standard will encourage operators to quickly move towards 5G commercialization. We truly look forward to taking the first step in the 5G commercialization and keeping the momentum with all 5G ecosystem players.”

SoftBank

Junichi Miyakawa, Representative Director & CTO of SoftBank, said: “SoftBank would like to express our gratitude to the leading companies for the timely completion of 5G standardization in 3GPP. In 2020s, everything will be connected to the internet, guiding us to greater revolution than ever. SoftBank has a huge expectation toward the upcoming 5G era, and is willing to lead the whole industry to accelerate the commercialization of 5G.”

Sony Mobile Communications

Hidehiko Teshirogi, Director, EVP, Sony Mobile Communications, said: “Sony has been part of the 5G NR and SA standardization and recognizes the progress in 3GPP to reach the completion of the SA 5G NR specifications. Sony Mobile is ready for full-scale development of 5G NR smartphones to take benefit of the opportunities offered by the new standard.”

Spirent Communications

“Delivery of the standalone 5G NR specifications is a milestone for the industry,” said Wright Nigel, EVP Global Sales, Spirent Communications, “As a test solution provider, Spirent will continue to work with the industry to reduce the complexity and cost of 5G testing, and accelerate innovation and time to revenue for new 5G-enabled services. Spirent will continue the close cooperation with our industry partners that will help to bring forward the implementation of 5G commercial deployment worldwide.”

StarPoint

“Congratulations to 3GPP for successfully completing Rel-15 5G SA standard”, said Professor Zhang Ping, founder of StarPoint, “This is a pivotal milestone of 5G commercialization, which will profoundly change the way we live for many years to come. As a world leading mobile testing solution provider, StarPoint is proud of having played a part of this process and will continue to work closely with our partners and the whole ecosystem to ensure that our 5G testing solutions always meet what the industry requires.”

Sumitomo Electric Industries

Toshiaki Kakii, Managing Executive Officer of Sumitomo Electric Industries, said: “As a global leading manufacturer of infocommunication devices and infocommunication/automotive network systems, we are pleased that the first release of the 5G NR specification has been completed and are proud to be a member of the 5G NR pioneers. Sumitomo Electric will continue developing advanced products to support the introduction of 5G NR commercial devices and networks.”

TIM

Enrico Bagnasco, Head of Technology Innovation of TIM, said: “The timely delivery of Rel 15 is another big step forward in the adoption of 5G to expand the footprint of the current mobile network into new market segments. We at TIM are particularly proud to have contributed with the 3GPP family for this achievement. The availability of a full set of NSA and SA standards will open several options for the deployment of the new technology, boosting a new generation of devices.”

Unisoc

Mr. Jingming Wang, Chief Operation Officer of Unisoc, said: “The 5G SA mode can decently reveal the technical advances of 5G. It will extensively fulfill the technical needs of intelligent transformation of global society in the coming 5G era. The prompt finalization of 3GPP R15 consolidates the standard foundation for the successful commercialization of 5G in year 2020, aiming at which the 1st generation 5G terminal chip from Unisoc is under developing with full power.”

Verizon

Ed Chan, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Architect of Verizon, said: “I applaud 3GPP’s completion of Release 15 including the Standalone NR System specifications. This milestone mirrors our active contributions and collaboration in industry standards and our continued leadership in 5G with our vendor partners, like the creation of  Verizon 5G Technical Forum with key industry players in 2015 to accelerate the pace of 5G innovation.  Earlier this month, Verizon marked two important industry firsts in 5G development: the successful completion of outdoor data sessions based on the 3GPP NR standard and the successful completion of multi-carrier aggregation, boosting the signals into the gigabit range.  The pair of successes, based on 3GPP’s NR standard and Verizon’s 28GHz millimeter wave spectrum, proved the exciting potential of 5G technologies. It demonstrated the transmission of multiple live interactive virtual reality (VR) sessions with a latency of 1.5 milliseconds and simultaneous 4K streaming video.  We are working with our industry partners in leading the 5G fixed wireless and enhanced mobile broadband deployments.  Verizon believes 3GPP’s standardization of 5G technologies will further help us build the future as we embark into a new era of services for our customers.”

VIAVI

Ian Langley, SVP and GM at VIAVI, said, “The completion of the first-phase full-featured 5G NR standardization work is an exciting news for the entire wireless communications industry. Since the 3G era, VIAVI test solutions have been dedicated to helping the industry accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation mobile and broadband services. VIAVI will accelerate the development of TM500 test instruments supporting the 5G SA and provide comprehensive support for the development and verification of 5G network infrastructure.”

Vivo

Yujian Shi, SVP and CTO of vivo, said: “To provide better user experience in 5G, we joined 3GPP and made lots of technical contributions on 5G SA&NSA. We appreciate the great efforts made by thousands of telecommunication experts to accelerate the 5G standards. Vivo are stepping up the 5G smart phone R&D and strive to release 5G SA smartphone in 2019.”

Vodafone

Luke Ibbetson, Head of Vodafone Group R&D said “This is another important step towards being able to realise the full potential of 5G as we look ahead to the next decade of mobile innovation. This adds further capability to the 5G family of technologies including 5G NR, LTE evolution and LPWA.”

Xiaomi

Mr. Wang Xiang, the senior VP of Xiaomi, said: “Xiaomi always adheres to the concept of “Let everyone in the world to enjoy the fun of science and technology.” With this concept in mind, we have been actively participating in the 5G standardization. 5G will provide a broader platform and market for industrial applications. By making full use of the advantages of its ecological system and 5G technology, Xiaomi will continue to make contributions to the development of 5G industrial applications.”

ZTE

Mr. Zhang Jianguo, Senior Vice President of ZTE, said: “The complete Phase-I 5G standard published on schedule has embodied collective wisdom and painstaking efforts of operators and industrial partners, and will definitely accelerate the global 5G industrial process. A more open, agile, and smart high-speed full-connectivity era is coming in the blink of an eye. The development of enterprises and industrial applications will benefit the whole society. ZTE will continue to work together with industrial partners to make a contribution to global digital development.”

The collaboration between groups of telecommunications standards associations, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) opens its general assembly in San Diego, the U.S. from June 11 to 14 and announces details on the first standards for the 5G mobile communication. Samsung Electronics published a 5G standards whitepaper following the general assembly on June 14.

With the title of “Who & How: Making 5G NR Standards”, the paper contains clear information on 5G mobile communication and its standards including the reason why standards are required in telecommunication, establishment process of the 5G standards and technological characteristics of the 5G standards. The paper explains the frequencies and new technologies for 5G such as above 6GHz range that had previously not been used in telecommunication.

5G Frequency Bands

The paper also contains interviews with five employees who work as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the 3GPP and 5G business fields. The interviews show Samsung’s leadership in the standardization and commercialization of 5G in a Q&A format.

“Samsung has been leading the 3GPP standardization for more than two years and introduced 5G super high frequency equipment for the first time in the world,” said Woojune Kim, Senior Vice President of the Network Division at Samsung Electronics. “Until 2020, we will actively support the commercialization of 5G including super high frequency and low frequency equipment with Korea, the U.S., Japan and other 5G leading countries at the very center of the change”.

The whitepaper, “Who & How: Making 5G NR Standards,” is available for download at the Samsung Electronics Network Division homepage.

Based on the 2018 Busan meeting, the 3GPP will make the final announcement of 5G phase-1 standards at the general meeting that is going to be held in the U.S. next month. The 5G standardization process that started in April 2016 will end next month after a 27-month journey. In particular, the work carried out on the frontlines by Samsung engineers has helped to bring about the commercialization of 5G 21 months faster than the time taken for the 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) transition, which was 39 months. Some of the global consumers will be able to enjoy, as early as this year, the next generation services such as ultra-high definition content, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous driving, and the Internet of Things (IoT) on 5G that is more than 20 times faster than the previous network.

“Samsung Electronics has been working on ultra-high frequency three years faster than other companies,” said Younsun Kim, Principal Engineer of Standards Research Team at Samsung Research and Vice Chairman of RAN1 working group in 3GPP. “When the world started to discuss the setting of standards, Samsung had already developed the related technologies. We had strong aspirations to bring the standardization for 5G commercialization faster than any other company in the world.”

Comparison between 4G LTE and 5G standardization schedules

“2017 vs 2020,” A Debate Over Setting the Standardization Period

Many in the industry turned their heads as the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) identified ultra-high frequency above 6GHz as the optimal candidate band for 5G (refer to ‘Pioneer in 5G Standards, Part 1’), and a debate ensued between those who advocated for faster 5G standardization and others who were more reluctant to do so.

Samsung set 2017 as the completion period for the first 5G standardization as it developed the cutting-edge beamforming technology, Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) and other technologies to use ultra-high frequencies. However, other companies that were focusing on the 4G commercialization and had a late start on 5G R&D, countered with 2020 as the completion period for the first 5G standardization. This would have pushed the 5G commercialization period to 2021.

Samsung propelled to establish a workshop at the 3GPP, and 150 companies and more than 550 attendees came to Phoenix, the U.S. in September 2015. Here, the company proposed core technologies for 5G and provided a conciliatory gesture to delay the first standardization period, including the ultra-high frequency band, to 2018. As the participants from U.S., Japanese and Korean companies who wanted to commercialize 5G early showed great interests in the plan, the argument for ‘standardization in 2020’ was revoked. At the April 2016 5G standardization meeting, which was the first one organized by Samsung, companies reached an agreement of setting 2018 as the year to complete standardization.

The 3GPP 5G Workshop held on September 2015 in Phoenix, U.S.

Doubt Turns to Trust for Ultra-High Frequency through Vigorous Contacts to FCC and Others

From the early stage, Samsung has been eager to introduce the 5G ultra-high frequency technology to regulatory government agencies and international organizations. The company has been in constant contact with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) since 2012 because they always open their communication channels to explore new technologies. The FCC had a great interest in using ultra-high frequency due to saturation of using low frequencies below 6GHz. They positively replied to Samsung on the issue of using a 28GHz ultra-high frequency for the first time.

The FCC allocated ultra-high frequencies including 28GHz for 5G in July 2016, just three months after the first 3GPP standardization meeting. The U.S. is now looking forward to commercializing 5G communication in the second half of this year as the U.S. telecommunication companies are competing fiercely to lead on 5G services with their allocated frequencies. Such movements have acted as catalysts to move toward the standardization of 5G.

“When Samsung first introduced 5G standardization to the world in 2013, most doubted or ignored the idea,” said Hyukchoon Kwon, Principal Engineer of Standards Research team at Samsung Research. “Trust in Samsung and its 5G technology, as well as the rapid advancement towards standardization, were all possible not only because of technological developments but also due to constant contact with international organizations and various governments.”

Since 2015, Samsung has been actively suggesting 5G technology to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), one of the three biggest international standards (ITU, IEC, ISO) and conformity assessment bodies for all fields of electrotechnology. The IEC published the white paper on the evaluation of 5G ultra-high frequency product electromagnetic waves in November 2017. The international standard on 5G device electromagnetic waves affecting the human body is expected to be completed as early as next year.

Samsung showcased its latest 5G innovations at MWC 2018 in Barcelona.

Five 3GPP Chair and Vice Chairs, and the Largest Number of 5G Patents Validate the Standards Leadership of Samsung

The international organization 3GPP that leads 5G standardization has 16 working groups under three Technical Support Groups (TSGs). Samsung has been in charge of four positions including the Chair of Service & System TSG and Chair of RAN4 working group, which oversees the frequency and performance that is key to 5G, and in 2018, one more Chair position – SA6 working group for mission-critical applications – was given to Samsung, as an evidence of how its leadership in 5G technology and standardization is recognized throughout the world.

Samsung also kept its eyes on registering patents to protect the innovative technologies. According to the Taiwan Patent Office in 2016, Samsung led 66 companies by owning 12.7 percent in more than 7,500 of the essential standard patents for 4G LTE and LTE-Advanced. The company continues its leadership on developing 5G-related technologies and securing essential standard patents. As the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) allows companies related to the 5G standards to register their essential patents, Samsung registered the largest number of 1,254 patents as of May.

“The study on 5G ultra-high frequency started in 2009 and it is now heading to its goal of producing international standards after ten years of work, thanks to our engineers’ dedication, said Juho Lee, Master of Standards Research Team, Samsung Research. Samsung’s efforts to make people’s lives more abundant through advanced technologies will continue even after the commercialization of 5G.”

Starting May 21, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), an initiative uniting the world’s leading telecommunications standard development organizations, will convene in Busan, Korea to complete communication standards, vital for the commercialization of 5G wireless communications. Samsung Electronics’ research into ultra-high frequency (mmWave) for 5G extends back to 2009 when the Dallas, Texas branch of Samsung Research, formerly known as the Digital Media & Communications (DMC) R&D center, fixed its sights on the ultra-high frequency above 6GHz.

Samsung Research’s Dallas, Texas branch, pictured in 2009

“We had a strong belief in the potential of ultra-high frequency, then considered uncharted space for the industry, and pushed forward in R&D, one step ahead of other companies,” said Sungho Choi, Vice President of the Standard Research Team at Samsung Research. “This was during a time when basically everyone in the telecommunications industry was busy preparing for the transition to 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE), and there was great uncertainty as to what would come after.”

Early Efforts by Samsung Electronics

In 2009, the Dallas office initiated an in-depth study into next generation telecommunications technology and delivered a proposal on ultra-high frequency to Samsung Research. In the extensive 300-page report, ultra-high frequency, with the application of cutting-edge beamforming technology, was seen as the method to solve the challenge of ultra-high-speed, large-volume transmission.

This was at a time, however, when the dominant opinion of papers and books on telecommunications had doubt about the application of ultra-high frequency due to its drawbacks. However, believing in the potential of its discovery, in 2011, Samsung Electronics initiated an in-house project to expand upon research, and in the following year, Samsung Research established a “Next Generation Communications Lab,” accelerating the development of ultra-high frequency and 5G technologies.

As the culmination of its early efforts, Samsung Electronics’ successful demonstration of the world’s first 5G communications, with speed of 1Gpbs, made headlines in 2013, thanks to the close to four years of advanced research at a time when 4G LTE was enjoying its rise to the height of popularity.

In 2013, Samsung Electronics successfully demonstrated the world’s first 5G communications, at a speed of 1Gbps.

Finding the Optimal Band for 5G, 28GHz

The research into ultra-high frequency posed a critical question for the international community related to the ideal frequency band for 5G. At the time, nationally regulated frequencies, in the range between 0 and 300GHz, were already allocated for communications, broadcasting, science and military purposes. The challenge was encouraging as many countries as possible to use the same bands for 5G to accelerate standardization and commercialization.

“When beginning our research, we studied almost every ‘frequency map’ in the world,” said Juyeon Song, Principal Engineer of the Standard Research Lab at Samsung Research. “We arrived at the conclusion that the most applicable ultra-high frequency band is 28GHz.”

Propelling Standard Development After Approval of Ultra-High Frequency as the 5G Candidate Band

Samsung strived to continue technology development after identifying the optimal candidate band for 5G, 28GHz. However, researchers soon reached an impasse: persuading those countries, who had already allocated the band for core industries other than communications, as well as certain business segments, who were reluctant to rush the commercialization of 5G during the dominance of 4G.

“Witnessing the saturation point of using traditional frequencies below 6GHz, more countries began to pay attention to ultra-high frequency,” said Hyoungjin Choi, Principal Engineer of the Standard Research Lab at Samsung Research. “Targeting these countries and companies with a great interest in the utilization of the frequency band and commercialization of 5G laid the foundation for standardization.”

During the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations, the Korean government submitted a proposal on by Samsung. However, the issue was alignment with countries that wanted to use the ultra-high frequency band for services other than telecommunications services. During the ensuing four-weeks of marathon meetings, several ultra-high frequency bands were finally approved as candidate bands for 5G, propelling standardization.

Since WRC in 2015, with debate ongoing, Samsung has continued its efforts to advocate and serve as the leading proponent of 5G standardization, towards the aim of the development of technologies related to ultra-high frequencies. Read the second part of this special series for more on Samsung’s journey after 2016 to develop 5G standards, including 28GHz^* ultra-high frequency.

During the 2015 WRC, the Korean government submitted a proposal to utilize ultra-high frequency technology for 5G.

^*The 3GPP is standardizing more than 30 candidate bands from a low frequency of 600MHz to ultra-high frequency of 40GHz. 28GHz is the representative ultra-high frequency band which leading 5G countries are seeking to prioritize to realize 5G commercialization.

About 1,500 standards experts from chipset, handset and equipment vendors including Samsung, Qualcomm, as well as major mobile operators such as Verizon, AT&T, NTT DoCoMo, KT and SK Telecom will attend to complete the 5G phase-1 standard.

“The first 5G standard, which includes innovative technologies developed by Samsung Electronics, will be completed at this 3GPP conference,” said Seunghwan Cho, Executive Vice President of Samsung Research. “This will lead the market to commercialize 5G communication to serve as the core infrastructure for the coming fourth industrial revolution.”

At this conference, all working groups (RAN working groups 1 to 5) that develop 5G wireless technology assemble to confirm the final technologies for 5G commercialization. These include 5G wireless access technology providing ultra-high speed data and ultra-low latency and the conformance testing method for 5G terminals.

In particular, the RAN4 working group, chaired by Samsung, will decide the radio performance requirements for 5G terminals and base stations including the 3.5GHz and 28GHz bands. This requirement will inform the radio regulations, which will be key in the deployment of a 5G spectrum when 5G commercialization starts in earnest in Korea, in the U.S. and Japan.

In December of last year, 3GPP first approved the 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) standard that uses the existing 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) as the anchor for connecting to 5G. And as the 5G Standalone (SA) standard will be completed in this Busan meeting, the 5G phase-1 standard will be officially approved at the 3GPP plenary next month in the U.S.

Samsung is leading 5G as a pioneer in the areas of new technology development, standard activities and patents. With 1,254 patents as of this month, Samsung Electronics ranked first on the list of 3GPP member companies with essential 5G standard patents declared to the European Telecommunications Standardization Organization (ETSI).

The company was successful in the world’s first 5G mobility demonstration between base stations over an ultra-high frequency (mmWave) band in 2015, having started its 5G research in 2012. In 2017, the company succeeded in 5G communication on a high-speed vehicle traveling at 200km/h and demonstrated the world’s first 8K video download and 4K video upload on the bullet train.

Samsung signed a 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) commercial agreement with Verizon in January of this year based on its industry leading 5G technologies, standards leadership and numerous field demonstrations. This February, Samsung became the first in the world to get approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the U.S. government agency regulating interstate communications, for 5G Radio access unit and outdoor Customer Premise Equipment (CPE), and also obtained approval for its 5G Home router (Indoor CPE) this month.

Younsun Kim (center), Principal Engineer of Standards Research Team at Samsung Research, is welcoming attendees at the 3GPP 5G Conference Working Group (RAN1) meeting, held in Busan on May 21, 2018.

※ Background Information

3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP):

An organization that currently develops 5G communication standard technology. More than 550 companies are participating as member companies. It consists of 16 working groups that develop standard specifications of an E2E technology of terminal, base station and system.

LTE and 5G Comparison (ITU-R, 2017.02)

3GPP Structures

Three TSG (Technology Steering Group)s and 16 working groups.

Status of Samsung’s Leadership in 3GPP

A recent vote, held at the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) in Sophia Antipolis, France, saw Suresh Chitturi (front row, fifth from right) elected as the new Chairman of the 3GPP SA6 Working Group.

Mr. Suresh Chitturi, Director for Standards at the Samsung Research Institute in Bangalore, was recently elected as new Chairman of the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Service and System Aspect 6 (SA6) Working Group by acclamation in Sophia Antipolis, France.

The 3GPP is a collaborative project aimed at developing global standards for acceptable specifications of telecommunications networks. The project is comprised of three Technical Specification Groups (TSGs), under which 16 Working Groups oversee specifications for each sector. In addition to Mr. Chitturi, new Chairman of SA6, other Samsung officials currently serving in elected roles on the 3GPP include one TSG Chairman, two Chairman of Working Groups, and two Vice-Chairman. For his part, Mr. Chitturi will lead the SA6 Working Group for the next two years.

For its part, the SA6 is a key working group responsible for the development of application layer standards. Since its inception in 2014, SA6 has played a significant role in the development of Mission Critical Applications Standards across Long-Term Evolution (LTE), a global standard widely adopted by public safety agencies and other critical communication industry verticals. The Standards enable the use of push-to-talk voice, video and data communications for public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) operations over broadband networks.

“Providing leadership to 3GPP SA6 Working Group, especially in this era of new mobile communications, is a unique opportunity. We at Samsung value the importance of the activity of 3GPP and SA6 in creating a robust platform for future 5G services, leading up to the era of 5G commercialization,” said Mr. Chitturi.

Mr. Chitturi currently serves as the Director for Standards at the Samsung Research Institute in Bangalore, India.

While there is a significant industry effort to develop the new 5G standard, which is scheduled to be ready by June this year, the focus on 5G services will be far more critical to the applications of 5G technology. Mission Critical Application Standards, which apply to the essential systems critical to the survival of a business or organization, will remain a key responsibility of SA6 Working Group particularly in the move towards diverse applications of 5G. For instance, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), smart factories, as well as 5G service application programming interface (API) frameworks will allow 3^rd party verticals to leverage the rich capabilities of the 5G core network and new radio.

Prior to being elected Chairman, Mr. Chitturi served as Vice-Chairman of SA6 Working Group, providing key contribution to the timely completion of Mission Critical Standards to meet the needs of the Critical Communications industry. Mr. Chitturi also represents Samsung on the Governing Council of TSDSI, the India Telecom Standards Development Organization (SDO), and has previously held leadership positions in several other SDOs such as World Wide Web (W3C), Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), Java Community Process (JCP), and the GSM Association (GSMA).

In addition to the appointment of Mr. Chitturi, Mr. Aris Papasakellariou, Senior Director of Standards at Samsung Research America, received the 2017 3GPP Excellence Award earlier this month for his outstanding contributions in the field of radio access technology for 5G.

Samsung continues its significant contribution and progress in making 5G a reality, with advancements including introduction of the world’s first 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) commercial solutions at MWC 2018, as well as being selected as supplier by many of the world’s leading carrier companies.

This is the fourth time an employee of Samsung received the prestigious award. On this occasion, it was presented to Aris Papasakellariou, a Senior Director of Standards at Samsung Research America, in recognition of his contributions in the field of radio access technology for 5G.

Each year, the award is presented to four individuals who have made outstanding technical contributions to the development of next generation mobile broadband standards in 3GPP. An estimated 1,500 researchers are participating in the 3GPP working group.

“Beyond an individual recognition, this is a validation of the proactive participation taken by Samsung in bringing about future network standards,” said Aris Papasakellariou. “Samsung’s team of engineers will continue its contribution to mobile broadband standardizations and help provide the platform for 3GPP NR (New Radio) and 5G connectivity.”

Samsung has made big strides to making 5G a reality, unveiling the world’s first 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) commercial solutions at MWC 2018 while announcing its collaboration with global network providers. Samsung was selected to supply Verizon with commercial 5G FWA network solutions. The two companies will begin by launching commercial 5G services in Sacramento, California in the second half of 2018. Samsung is collaborating with Charter Communications on 5G trials in the U.S. while Sprint announced that it would deploy Samsung’s 5G solutions to increase Gigabit speeds and capacity.

On February 27, 2017 in Barcelona, global mobile industry leaders announced their support for the acceleration of the 5G NR standardization schedule, which introduced an intermediate milestone to complete the first implementable specification for Non-Standalone 5G NR operation. As a result of this announcement, the schedule acceleration was agreed at the 3GPP RAN Plenary Meeting on March 9 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. This first specification was completed as part of 3GPP Release 15.

This standard completion is an essential milestone to enable cost-effective and full-scale development of 5G NR, which will greatly enhance the capabilities of 3GPP systems, as well as facilitate the creation of vertical market opportunities. 3GPP plans to continue to develop Release 15, including the addition of support for Standalone 5G NR operation also agreed upon by 3GPP in Dubrovnik. The 5G NR lower layer specifications have been designed so that they can support Standalone and Non-Standalone 5G NR operation in a unified way, to ensure that 3GPP benefits the global industry with a large-scale single 5G NR ecosystem. We express our appreciation for the tremendous efforts that 3GPP has dedicated to accomplishing this challenging standardization schedule.

AT&T

“We’re proud to see the completion of this set of standards. Reaching this milestone enables the next phase of equipment availability and movement to interoperability testing and early 5G availability,” said Hank Kafka, VP Access Architecture and Analytics at AT&T. “It showcases the dedication and leadership of the industry participants in 3GPP to follow through on accelerating standards to allow for faster technology deployments.”

BT

“BT welcomes the first significant step to 5G deployment and we remain excited about the further innovations that 5G will bring.” said Neil J. McRae, Chief Architect at BT, “We are proud to have played a part in this and BT is committed to continuing to drive further 5G standardisation at pace to benefit our customers and communities.”

China Mobile

“The first version of 5G NR not only provides a NSA solution for 5G deployment but also completes the common part of NSA and SA, which lay a solid foundation for a global unified 5G system with global market scale. We believe the next important milestone that is SA standard providing end to end 5G new capability could be completed by June of 2018, which is very crucial to enable the operators to explore the enterprise and vertical markets. China Mobile is actively working with industry partners for 5G commercialization in year of 2020 and providing various services to customer. ” said Zhengmao Li, EVP of China Mobile Group.

China Telecom

“China Telecom is proud of being part of the 3GPP standard efforts that led to the completion of the first implementable 5G new radio specification. We expect that this important milestone, together with the SA part to be completed later, will promote and accelerate the development of 5G products, trials and commercial deployment in the coming years,” said Liu Guiqing, EVP of China Telecom. “With this successful completion of the 5G new radio standard, China Telecom plans to lead the 5G effort by launching field trials in many major cities in China as early as 2018, and prepare for the possible commercialization thereafter.”

China Unicom

Guanglu Shao, EVP of China Unicom Group, said: “It is the significant step for both 3GPP and the whole industry. This first version of 5G NR standardization provides essential functionalities for NSA and SA deployment, which are equally important for operators. We believe in that the industry could joint together further to make 5G more advanced for both human and vertical societies. We welcome the 5G era’s coming, and will continue collaborate with industry partners to make successful 5G commercialization.”

Deutsche Telekom

“We view both the Non-Standalone and Standalone modes of New Radio as equally important for the completeness of the 5G standard specification. This timely finalization of NSA is one important step on that journey and in the development of the 5G ecosystem,” said Bruno Jacobfeuerborn, CTO Deutsche Telekom. “It is crucial that the industry now redoubles its focus on the Standalone mode to achieve progress towards a full 5G system, so we can bring key 5G innovations such as network slicing to our customers.”

Ericsson

Erik Ekudden, CTO at Ericsson, said: “3GPP has done a tremendous job to complete the first 5G specifications according to industry demand and expectations. As a prime contributor to 5G standardization, Ericsson has worked with industry partners in the evolution of mobile technology to a global network platform for consumers and enterprises. Our research team has worked on 5G since 2010 including early 5G testbed efforts created together with these industry partners. The open contribution-driven specification work and the rapid completion of the first 5G standards for global deployment demonstrates the strength of the 5G eco-system.”

Fujitsu

Masayuki Seno, EVP and Head of Network Products Business Unit at Fujitsu, said: “I’m very pleased that the first 5G NR standard has been completed today. Fujitsu will accelerate development of 5G NR products based on the first 3GPP 5G NR specifications and provide them to worldwide markets to support our customers’ trials and commercial deployments.”

Huawei

Yang Chaobin, president of Huawei 5G product line, said: “As one of the key players, Huawei has committed to develop a single global 5G standard. With the a successful cooperation and join efforts with global organizations including governments, regulatory agencies, research organizations, academia, industries, and many more sectors, 3GPP 5G NR standardization Phase 1 has been completed with great progress. Huawei will keep working with global partners to bring 5G into the period of large-scale global commercial deployment from 2018.”

Intel

“We are pleased to work in cooperation and close alignment with global mobile industry leaders to support the new 3GPP Non-Standalone 5G NR standard and to accelerate the first NR trials,” said Asha Keddy, Intel vice president and general manager, Next Generation and Standards. “As part of this coordinated effort, Intel will continue to play a leading role across the network, cloud and client devices; and with our first commercial 5G modems, we will help the ecosystem lead the way to 5G deployments worldwide.”

KT Corporation

Dongmyun Lee, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Institute of Convergence Technology, KT said: “As one of the 5G leaders, we are greatly excited to witness the first ever release of 5G NR NSA specification that the whole industry including KT has endeavored to achieve in recent years and therefore make a strong commitment to finally bring full-scale services of the true 5G standards to commercial market as early as 2019.”

KT expects that such 3GPP’s efforts meeting the market needs will further accelerate the realization of the 4th Industrial Revolution for telecommunication industry.”

LG Electronics

I.P. Park, Chief Technology Officer, said: “LG Electronics is pleased to be one of key contributors to the first global 5G NR standard completed in a timely manner, which will play a pivotal role in enabling innovative IoT services and expediting the convergence of diverse industry sectors. Along with continued contributions to evolved 5G standards, we will make all the efforts to introduce new innovative 5G convergence products and services in the market.”

LG Uplus

Joosik Choi, Head of 5G Strategy Planning, said: “We would like to thank to 3GPP and all companies for great effort on initial 5G NR NSA standard which will accelerate promising future. As one of the big contributor for RF analysis on LTE band, 3.5GHz and 28GHz dual connectivity operation, LG Uplus will keep endeavor for bring 5G NR deployment and advanced standard into industry for this ecosystem.”

MediaTek Inc.

“The milestone reached is significant as it is an important step towards making 5G NR a commercial reality,” said Dr. Kevin Jou, Corporate Sr. Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, MediaTek. “As a leading baseband chip provider, MediaTek has actively contributed to the standardization of 5G NR and will continue to do so. With the standard becoming stable, our focus is now on delivering viable commercial solutions that will enable the use of 5G NR technology to its full potential.”

NEC Corporation

Atsuo Kawamura, executive vice president and head of the Telecom Carrier Business Unit at NEC Corporation, said: “Completion of Non-Standalone 5G NR standardization is a significant milestone for the realization of full-scale 5G services. NEC is strongly committed to driving the progress of standardization for a global mobile system, and believes future 5G services will benefit society in an unprecedented manner by utilizing advanced information and communications technologies. NEC is creating secure and intelligent technologies to realize such services.”

Nokia

Marcus Weldon, president of Nokia Bell Labs and chief technology officer, Nokia, said: “This is a key milestone in bringing 5G to market, and one in which Nokia is proud to have played a significant role. 5G will advance new possibilities for the role of wireless technology in society, leading to dynamic innovation in mobile broadband and in industrial automation for industry 4.0, enabling the creation of exciting new applications that connect and control our physical and digital worlds.”

NTT DOCOMO

Dr. Hiroshi Nakamura, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, NTT DOCOMO said: “ I would like to express my deepest gratitude for 3GPP’s great effort to successfully complete the first release of 5G NR specification six months ahead of schedule. NTT DOCOMO has made tremendous contributions to the standardization as a world-leading mobile operator. We have been collaborating with various partners across industries to co-create 5G services through ‘5G Trial Sites’ since this May. This completion will accelerate these activities and we will launch 5G services with Non-Standalone 5G NR by 2020.”

Orange

Arnaud Vamparys, SVP Radio Networks said: “Orange welcomes this inaugural first release of a worldwide standard for 5G. With subsequent 3GPP releases expected from mid 2018 that will accelerate application and IoT development, Orange sees a myriad of opportunities to deliver a differentiated and high quality network, and is therefore fully committed to working with the industry to roll out 5G. ”

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

“We are excited to be part of this significant milestone, and to once again be at the forefront making the 5G vision a reality in 2019,” said Cristiano Amon, executive vice president, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and president, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “We look forward to continue working with our mobile industry peers to bring 5G NR commercial networks and devices in 2019 in smartphone and other form factors, for both sub-6Ghz and mmWave frequency bands, and to continue developing 5G technologies to connect new industries and enable new services and user experiences in the years to come.”

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

DJ Koh, President and Head of IT and Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics, said: “As a global leader in the mobile industry, Samsung has been collaborating with the whole industry to achieve this milestone in 5G standards. With the completion of 5G NSA NR standard, we will be able to expedite 5G commercial deployments including chipsets, devices and network equipment. Samsung will continue making every effort to deliver complete Rel-15 NR standards.  Rel-15 NR and its further evolution will be a key milestone for the industry to meet the increasing global demand for enhanced mobile broadband services and exploring new business opportunities and services inspired by 5G.”

SK Telecom

“Having global 3GPP 5G NR standard by 2017 is one of key milestones to bring 5G into early commercial service in 2019”, said Jinhyo Park, EVP, Head of ICT R&D Center, “SK Telecom is proud to be one of key contributors to the accelerated 3GPP 5G NSA-NR standardization. We will continue to work on further development of 3GPP 5G NR to ensure readiness for early 5G commercial deployment.”

Sony Mobile Communications Inc.

Mr. Izumi Kawanishi, Director, EVP, Sony Mobile Communications Inc., said: “Sony has been part of the 5G NR and NSA standardization and recognizes the progress in 3GPP to reach this important milestone with features targeting evolved mobile broadband and ultra low latency communications. Sony Mobile is ready for full-scale development of 5G NR smartphones to take benefit of the opportunities offered by the new standard.”

Sprint

“We’re excited to help usher in the next generation of wireless networks that will drive new levels of innovation and progress around the world,” said Dr. John Saw, Sprint CTO.“We congratulate 3GPP and its delegates on this important milestone, and we look forward to working with our industry partners to deploy 5G NR in our 2.5 GHz (NR band n41) spectrum.”

TIM

Mr. Giovanni Ferigo, CTO, said: “TIM has already defined a sound track towards 5G and is collaborating with key industry players, municipalities and public Institutions to unleash the full potential of 5G for people and vertical markets by 2020 expanding the footprint of LTE-A. The extraordinary work done in 3GPP in a few months to keep the promise of a first set of standards coping with the strict requirements of a new radio interface is a fundamental step in this roadmap. We are looking forward to contributing to the next 3GPP milestones which will complete the work on Release 15.”

Telefonica

Mr. Enrique Blanco, Telefónica’s Global Systems and Networks Director, said: “Telefónica greatly appreciates the efforts made by the industry for completing this major milestone towards 5G. Telefónica acknowledges the full potential of 5G, and encourages the industry to keep developing ambitious ideas in order to deliver outstanding connectivity and bring the best possible experience to our customers. Telefónica is fully committed to working with the industry in this direction.”

Telia Company

“We are happy to see that the acceleration of 5G standardization that we and the whole industry called for in February has been achieved. This allows for the early commercial deployments needed to open up for innovation and new business opportunities that our customers expect from us”, says Mauro Costa, Director Network Architecture & Strategy, Telia Company. “In order for the industry and society to take advantage of the full potential of 5G, it is vital that the standardization now continues with a focus to complete also the stand alone version.”

T-Mobile USA

“This is an important moment and a crucial development toward making 5G NR happen,” said Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer for T-Mobile US. “At T-Mobile, we’re committed to drive a 5G rollout across the US in 2020, and the efforts of 3GPP will help us to realize this great win for our customers.”

Verizon

“Verizon is delighted that the 3GPP is moving quickly to release a global standard for mobile 5G,” said Ed Chan, Chief Technology Architect and Network Planning.“With this important 3GPP milestone, Verizon is once again well positioned to deliver next-generation technology to customers just as we did with 4G LTE.”

Vodafone

Luke Ibbetson, Head of Vodafone Group R&D said: “Completion of the 5G standard six months earlier than originally anticipated is a significant milestone that should enable compliant network infrastructure and phones to be delivered in line with our requirements. This first version of 5G will build on the success of 4G, providing fast and highly efficient mobile broadband services to our customers and setting the foundation for the Gigabit Society.”

ZTE

Mr. Xu Huijun, CTO of ZTE Corporation, said: “The completion of the Non-Standalone 5G NR standardization is a critical milestone in the industry. I really appreciate 3GPP’s efforts in meeting this challenging schedule. As one of the contributors to the 5G standards-making process, ZTE will partner with the fellow mobile industry players to commit to accelerating the 5G NR large-scale trials and deployments.”

The new Wonju-Gangneung line, operated by the Korea Rail Network Authority (KRNA), spans 120 kilometers (75 miles) long, and will provide the public faster, easier access to the largest winter sports facilities in Korea, including PyeongChang. The LTE-R network is applied across the line’s seven stations, while the solution is interoperable with legacy Trunked Radio System (TRS), Very High Frequency (VHF) systems, and the national Public-Safety LTE (PS-LTE) network.

“We are delighted to work with Samsung to provide critical communications systems for this brand new high-speed train line,” said Yihan Kim, Senior Vice President and Head of Enterprise Business Performing Unit of KT. “The new line puts Gangneung only two hours away from Seoul, and LTE-R will make the journey for PyeongChang visitors a much safer and reliable experience.”

“Following Samsung’s first commercial deployment of LTE-R at the Busan Metro last April, this new implementation demonstrates the maturation and validation of our LTE-R solutions for high-speed trains,” said GY Seo, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Sales and Marketing Team in Networks Business, Samsung Electronics. “We look forward to continued collaboration with KT in the deployment of the most innovative critical-communications technologies across the country.”

LTE-R is a next-generation communications technology for smart train and metro services, enabling high-speed wireless voice and data communications inside trains, from train to ground and from train to train. In particular, LTE-R enables smooth and stable mission-critical communications – including MCPTT, group calls and VoLTE – between train personnel and control centers. In specific, Samsung has provided its radio access network operating in 700 MHz, a global band for LTE-based Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR), a dedicated core network including EPC, IMS and PTT servers deployed in two control centers, as well as rugged smartphones (SM-G888N0) for professionals.

Samsung, Korea’s leading LTE-R supplier, was elected as a supplier for all five LTE-R projects in Korea in 2015. Notably, its LTE-R solution is already in service on the 41 kilometer (26 miles)-long Busan Metro line 1 covering 40 stations in Korea’s second largest city. Launched by Samsung in April 2017, it represents the nation’s first case of LTE-R technology being used during operation of a train/metro. Samsung is also currently deploying LTE-R on the line between Incheon International Airport and Seoul Station in the center of the Capital.

“The wireless revolution is remaking our civic and commercial life. To power our mobile future – and lead the world in 5G service – we need to free up more spectrum and make smart choices about infrastructure. That’s why this discussion is so important,” said FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel.

While last year’s event took place amid early prototype testing of 5G technologies and focused on building a sustainable and feasible vision for 5G, this year, as the first real-world trials are already underway, the focus has shifted to a discussion of commercial realities. Topics at this year’s event range from 5G spectrum potential and standardization efforts to understanding operators’ roadmaps for first-wave 5G services as well as enterprise challenges and how 5G can potentially solve these issues.

“Samsung is pleased to host an event that welcomes telecom and IT companies to share their ideas, build relationships and pave a path forward for 5G,” said Paul Kyungwhoon Cheun, Executive Vice President and Head of the Next Generation Communications Business Team at Samsung Electronics. “With many industry 5G events happening early in the year, the Silicon Valley Summit helps maintain momentum with a specialized focus on building and enriching the 5G ecosystem. We’re excited to see how the industry progresses between now and next year’s event.”

Samsung’s Silicon Valley 5G Summit event placed considerable emphasis on ensuring representation across the value chain, with presenters and attendees including major telecom vendors, pioneering mobile service providers from across the globe, government regulatory bodies, IT and application service providers, chipset and infrastructure component vendors, test equipment vendors, and potential end users. The event has representation from more than 40 companies, as well as keynote speeches from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the UK’s Office of Communications (Ofcom) and The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

Over the coming year, Samsung expects to see the first commercial 5G applications begin to roll out to support use cases such as fixed wireless access (FWA) and wireless backhaul. In parallel, members of the ecosystem will begin to demonstrate and trial additional use cases to advance the way that people live and work.

For more information on the Silicon Valley 5G Summit 2017, please visit here.

To enable interworking between 4G and 5G, the companies used the current 4G LTE commercial network in the 2.6GHz band and newly built 5G networks using frequencies of 3.5GHz and 28GHz, as well as virtualized core and a test device that supports both 4G and 5G technologies.

In the Eulji-ro area of South Korea where the SK Telecom headquarters is located, 360 degree virtual reality video was streamed live between a user in a traveling car and another in their headquarters’ building. The significant radio frequency (RF) challenge that the two companies faced for this trial was with the dense urban outdoor environment consisting of closely situated office buildings and busy traffic in Eulji-ro.

The successful trial showed that users can experience seamless uninterrupted streaming service when transitioning from 4G to 5G networks and vice versa. Furthermore this test also implies a potential 5G deployment scenario, where end users still will be able to enjoy seamless mobile service going to and from 4G and 5G service areas during the initial phases of 5G network deployment where full coverage areas have not been fully built out.

“Users will be able to experience seamless communications service regardless of their location with 5G, in which the nationwide deployment of 4G will work together with base stations that support the 3.5GHz band for wide coverage as well as the 28GHz band for ultra-high speed transmission,” said Park Jin-hyo, Senior Vice President and Head of Network Technology R&D Center of SK Telecom. “We will continue from today’s success to solidify our stance as the leader of 5G commercialization.”

“Interworking between 4G and 5G is a prerequisite for the early stage of 5G commercialization. Likewise, the interworking between 3G and 4G was the key driver to foster the 4G eco-system and its commercialization,” said Dongsoo Park, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Sales & Marketing Team in Networks Business, Samsung Electronics. “The success of the test has proved that end users’ demand for a seamless and better experience can be met, on 4G-5G-intertwined next generation network.”

This trial served as a means to test and verify that seamless service is assured while a device moves to and from 4G LTE and 5G’s 3.5GHz and 28GHz networks. SK Telecom and Samsung established a virtualization network consisting of virtual 4G LTE and 5G cores with Software Defined Network (SDN) technology. Another critical element of the trial was to design in and test network slicing technology. The network slicing technology which can be used by network operators to offer different services and service levels was also evaluated to ensure consistent quality across diverse services in the multi-Radio Access Technology (Multi-RAT) setting.

With the achievements and lessons learned from the test, SK Telecom and Samsung will continue with various tests and trials to come up with ideal commercial scenarios and further identify 5G use cases by maximizing the use of the existing 4G commercialized networks.

For further information on joint efforts between SK Telecom and Samsung for 5G trials using the 3.5GHz band based on 3GPP New Radio latest specification, please visit here.

About SK Telecom

SK Telecom is the largest mobile operator in Korea by both revenue and number of subscribers. As of March 2017, the company holds around 50 percent of the Korean market. SK Telecom has led the advancement of mobile technologies ranging from 2G to 4G, and is currently setting important milestones in its journey to 5G. The company is not only leading innovation in the field of mobile network, but also providing IoT, media, home and platform services. SK Telecom is determined to play a significant role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution by achieving innovations and promoting shared growth with other players in the industry.

This past March, for example, the company successfully showcased a multilateral call enabled by mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT), a key feature of PS-LTE. In April, Samsung’s LTE-Railway (LTE-R) solution was successfully launched on a South Korean metro line. This is considered to be the first instance that Korea has utilized the technology during train operation.

Jaeseo Kim of Global Sales & Marketing Team at Samsung’s Networks Business, sat down with Samsung Newsroom to discuss some of the measures the company is taking to help public safety services operate effectively in times of crisis.

Q. In a nutshell, what is PS-LTE?

Daily digital tasks like streaming video and browsing the web on a smartphone are all possible thanks to the technological evolution of 4G LTE. While this high-speed wireless communication technology has brought many positive changes into our everyday lives, it has also benefited the public safety sector.

PS-LTE solutions make use of the advantages of LTE to enable public safety officers to easily share emergency-related information in the form of real-time video and high quality images, which is something that is not possible with other safety networks.

In other words, PS-LTE will serve as a foundation that will allow all relevant personnel to respond to disaster situations effectively by utilizing the same spectrum (700 MHz, in Korea’s case) and technology.

Q. What sets PS-LTE apart from existing public safety technologies?

The strength of a public safety network lies in its ability to provide a seamless and reliable communication service between diverse organizations and individuals.

Currently, most disaster response institutions make use of their own networks, which utilize different frequencies and technologies and make inter-organizational communication almost impossible. When responding to a fire emergency, for example, a firefighter would have to carry multiple transceivers in order to communicate with both the fire and police control centers, as the two agencies use different technologies.

PS-LTE based on 3GPP global standards, however, offers a single unified network allowing for synchronized communication and thus faster response times, and enables individual networks for each organization through virtualization technology.

Yet one of the biggest advantages of PS-LTE networks is data connectivity. While incumbent public safety networks generally only support very low data rates and voice-oriented usage, PS-LTE can transfer high volumes of data instantly. This means that high quality images and video can be transmitted, enabling the use of various applications such as live streaming during emergency situations or the use of mapping software for locating or directing mission-critical assets or concerns.

Q. In February of 2017, Samsung successfully conducted – for the first time in the world – a live multilateral video call using MCPTT technology. What is MCPTT and why is it important?

Mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) is an international standard set by 3GPP that allows public safety agencies to leverage LTE technological advancements for mission-critical communications. It enables thousands of devices to be connected at once to transfer video, images and voice simultaneously using multicast technology.

The main benefits of MCPTT technology can be summed up in three points. First off, the response time is 300 milliseconds, which is faster than LTE (600 milliseconds). Second, key figures such as the president, the authority in charge of an entire scene, as well as those responsible for reporting situations will be given priority in terms of communication. Finally, the technology will allow for a level of seamless connectivity that is unaffected by the environment. These benefits explain why MCPTT is regarded as the key technology in PS-LTE networks.

The success of the video call proved that MCPTT is a feasible technology and is also capable of providing seamless, high-resolution video calls between control centers and responders in emergency situations. The technology will help responders obtain a more accurate view of the scene than what is possible with only voice services, and will be applied to actual public safety networks beginning in early 2018.

MCPTT-based services will ensure reliable communication for multiple users through other PS-LTE key features such as GCSE (Group Call Service Enablers), LTE broadcast (eMBMS), VoLTE and D2D (Device-to-device) communication.

Samsung demonstrates a multilateral video call conducted between a central control station and public safety agencies using MCPTT technology

Q. In what other areas can PS-LTE technology be applied?

The possibilities are endless! One example is the LTE-Railroad (LTE-R) service, a high-speed, LTE-based railroad and subway wireless network that enables smooth mission-critical communications between train personnel and control centers using real-time multimedia group calls and texts on top of existing voice calls.

Since introducing the world’s first end-to-end PS-LTE portfolio based on 3GPP standards in February of 2016, we have begun to replace existing analogue wireless technology to ensure that all features concerning voice (individual, group, emergency, priority calls, and broadcast), video (video meetings and CCTV passenger monitoring), and data (control signal and large data file transfer) services can be integrated.

Samsung served as a leading participant in all five of South Korea’s LTE-R projects. Among them, the nation’s first LTE-R service, which was deployed in Line 1 of the Busan Metro in April, has enabled us to prove the reliability of our PS-LTE technology. It is also being deployed for high-speed trains that connect the cities of Wonju and Gangneung.

The trains operating on Korea’s Wonju-Gangneung line represent the world’s first case of LTE-R being applied to a high-speed train that travels as fast as 300km/h. The project marks the beginning of the commercialization of the Korea Rail Network Authority’s (KRNA) nationwide high-speed train business, which will take place in early 2018. Furthermore, Samsung aims to continue collaborating with the organization to create more innovative technologies.

Q. What would be the prospective vision for Samsung in this public safety industry?

The demand for effective, inter-organizational public safety communications has increased dramatically. It’s estimated that the worldwide PS-LTE market is expected to grow over 12 billion dollars in 2020. So, to ensure that these needs are met, Samsung is taking a leadership role as the world’s first end-to-end provider based on 3GPP standards with a virtualized core.

PS-LTE and LTE-R are just beginning to see wider use, and currently serve purely as means to handle emergency or disaster situations. Samsung, however, is setting its sights higher. Our next step will be to provide an intelligent PS-LTE solution that combines the latest developments in artificial intelligence, PS-IoT and video analytics with a unified PS-LTE network.

Our goal is for Samsung’s intelligent PS-LTE technology to eventually enable ‘intelligent disaster prevention,’ which will be possible when the technology develops to a level where it can detect elements of danger. This will be realized through the automated monitoring and analysis of natural disasters that threaten public safety, such as tsunamis, floods, forest fires and earthquakes.