Field trials were jointly carried out on the sites — located in Tamworth and the Peak District, England — since the start of this year. They followed successful lab tests conducted in October 2021, validating the capability and performance of Samsung’s 4G and 5G solutions on Virgin Media O2’s commercial network.

In addition, these field tests demonstrated interoperability between Virgin Media O2’s 2G/3G/4G networks and Samsung’s latest 4G and 5G solutions, and validated use of Samsung’s Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) capabilities, should they be required.

Samsung provided its latest network solutions for trials — including 4G radios, 5G Massive MIMO radios and baseband units. The solutions cover a wide range of Virgin Media O2’s spectrum holdings, from low- to mid-band (800MHz, 2.1GHz and 3.5GHz). Specifically, Samsung delivered its 5G 64T64R Massive MIMO radios for the 3.5GHz spectrum, a major 5G spectrum band for the operator’s network.

Samsung’s 5G 64T64R Massive MIMO radios are commercially deployed on a large scale in global markets, currently providing mobile service to millions of customers. This solution, in combination with Samsung’s baseband unit, will deliver improved coverage and higher data capacity to enhance 5G customer mobile experiences.

The Samsung radio solution used for this trial can also be O-RAN compliant with some configuration changes and additional support, making it ready to leverage the multiple benefits of the new technology in the future.

“Samsung is excited to extend our network collaboration with Virgin Media O2 in the U.K., advancing from lab trials to now delivering 4G and 5G in commercial networks out in the field,” said Francis BJ Chun, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics U.K. “We look forward to playing a major part of the diversification of the network equipment supply chain in the U.K. market.”

“We are pleased to build on our previous collaboration with Samsung, delivering another 5G milestone in our push to developing Open RAN technologies,” said Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2. “We will continue our collaborative efforts with Samsung to explore the possibilities of 5G and push the technology further to deliver superior end-user experiences for our customers.”

Open RAN technology has been at the forefront of Virgin Media O2’s network infrastructure strategy for over two years, with its first trials announced in early 2020.

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.

Virgin Media O2, which launched in June 2021, is a joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica in the U.K. The new business has become one of the U.K.’s largest, with 47 million connections across broadband, mobile, TV and home phone, and offers connectivity services, applications and digital solutions to tens of thousands of U.K. businesses and public sector organizations.

For the trial, Samsung will provide its advanced solutions which include its baseband unit, 5G Massive MIMO radios, as well as 4G radios on both low-band and mid-band spectrums, while being Open RAN compliant with some configuration changes and additional support in the future. The company’s latest baseband unit offers improved performance with industry leading capacity and throughput, while supporting both 4G and 5G technologies in a single unit. Moreover, Samsung’s 5G Massive MIMO radios have a slim and lightweight design, which ensures easy and quick installation for operators, as well as increased coverage and data speeds for driving enhanced 5G end-user experiences.

“With this trial, we are excited to join hands with Virgin Media O2 to demonstrate the readiness of our 5G network solutions for deployment in the U.K. and our capabilities in bringing immersive and reliable 4G and 5G mobile experiences to users,” said Woojune Kim, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Sales & Marketing, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “At Samsung, we are continuously enhancing mobile experiences through powerful network solutions that advance and drive 5G to new levels.”

“Vendor diversity is crucial to developing safe, secure and more efficient networks,” said Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2. “We look forward to undertaking these initial trials with Samsung, which is another milestone in our continued journey to provide the best possible 5G experience for our customers, as well as boosting our 4G network, as we look to upgrade the U.K.”

Julia Lopez, Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure, said, “We’re investing £250 million to put the UK at the forefront of 5G innovation so more people and businesses can benefit from improved and secure connectivity. It is fantastic to see industry supporting this push with Virgin Media O2 and Samsung working together to increase competition, resilience and choice in the 5G supply market.”

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.

About Virgin Media O2
Virgin Media O2 launched on 1 June 2021, combining the UK’s largest and most reliable mobile network with a broadband network offering the fastest widely-available broadband speeds. It is a customer-first organisation that brings a range of connectivity services together in one place with a clear mission: to upgrade the nation. Virgin Media O2 is the corporate brand of the 50:50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica SA, and one of the UK’s largest businesses.

Samsung Electronics today expanded the Tizen ecosystem with the introduction of the Samsung Z4, a 4G smartphone that combines performance and essential features with a simplified user experience.

The Samsung Z4 is equipped with a front and rear camera optimized for social media and a wide range of features focused on convenience and productivity, including quick and easy access to the most frequently used functions. Additionally, with 4G LTE, VoLTE, and VoWiFi*,  the Samsung Z4 offers faster network connectivity.

“We’re dedicated to providing our customers with devices that offer smarter mobile interactions,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung Z4 brings a simplified mobile experience to first time smartphone users and represents our ongoing commitment to expanding the Tizen ecosystem.”

Productivity and Convenience

Perfect for first-time smartphone users, the Samsung Z4 provides enhanced usability with a wide range of quick features, which offer fast and easy access to frequently used functions. Using different combinations of physical buttons or swiping the screen, users can create shortcuts to launch convenient features including Quick Talk, Quick Torch, Quick Launch of camera or Quick Switch without returning to the home screen. For example, Quick Talk will launch a set of shortcuts localized by region, such as Alarm, Call, or Music, simply through voice activated commands.

The Samsung Z4 offers efficient battery management features for extended use, including Battery Notifications and Power Planner. Battery Notifications allows users to set customized notifications so they can be alerted when the remaining battery power falls below a pre-set level. With Power Planner, users can pick from three different levels to manage their long-term battery use. Depending on the level, Power Planner will adjust the device’s configurations to maximize battery life to last for the selected time frame.

Easy Ways to Capture the Perfect Shot

The Samsung Z4 camera lets users capture high-quality photos. Perfect for taking bright, clear selfies, the 5-megapixel front camera includes an F2.2 lens, LED flash and a variety of camera modes. The Samsung Z4 also has a rear 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash so users can take crisp photos even when the subject is far away.

With the Samsung Z4, users can easily snap photos and videos with palm, auto and voice control. For faster selfies, users can take a photo by showing their palm and saying “cheese” or by waiting for Auto Selfie, which uses facial recognition to take sharp and accurate pictures. Users can also record continuous videos with the Video Flip function, which allows for simple switching between the rear and front cameras to capture multiple views in one single video.

Refined Design

For the first time on the Z Series, the Samsung Z4 features 2.5D curved glass for a comfortable one-handed grip so users can take selfies or multitask on-the-go. The bright 4.5-inch display provides a superior viewing experience against the all black bezel for a polished look and feel. The Samsung Z4 is truly a perfect mix of modern design and function.

Beginning in May, the Samsung Z4 will launch in select countries, starting in India and will be available in black, gold and silver depending on the market. The Samsung Z4 will also be showcased at the Tizen Developer Conference in San Francisco, California May 16-17, 2017.

For more product information, please visit http://www.samsungmobilepress.com

Samsung Z4 Product Specifications

* The availability of services may vary by country or service provider.

**All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Samsung India today launched its first 4G enabled Tizen-powered smartphone, Samsung Z2. Built on the Tizen platform, Samsung Z2 caters to the requirements of new smartphone users transitioning from a feature phone. Driven by the success of Z1 and Z3, and taking forward the smart, fun and simple attributes of Tizen platform, Samsung Z2 has been customised to offer unique value to the Indian consumers. The device comes with powerful specifications, pre-loaded essential apps and Samsung’s popular ‘Make for India’ features such as the Ultra Data Saving mode, S bike mode and the new My Money Transfer, to drive smartphone adoption.

Samsung Z2 comes with a complimentary invitation to the Jio Preview Offer to avail free voice and data services in the trial period. Z2 users will also get complimentary access to premium Jio applications – My Jio, Jio on Demand, Jio Beats – with unlimited options of latest movies, TV shows and songs across multiple languages during the Jio Preview offer.

Mr. Manu Sharma, Vice President, Mobile Business, Samsung India Electronics, said “Samsung Z2 makes 4G accessible and relevant to the unique needs of feature phone users and first time smartphone buyers. It brings consumers a fast and affordable mobile internet experience that will democratize 4G usage in the country.”

SMART

Fast & Easy to Use

The user interface on Samsung Z2 is simple and easy to use, offering faster and smoother device performance when combined with the Tizen platform. Powered by a 1.5GHz Quad-core processor, 1GB RAM and 8GB internal memory expandable up to 128GB with a microSD card, the device features dual SIM support and delivers a seamless and user-friendly smartphone experience.  The device is fueled by a 1500mAh long-lasting battery, which is further boosted by the unique ‘Ultra Power Saving mode’, which keeps the phone operational, even at minimal battery levels.

FUN

Unlimited Entertainment with Jio Apps

As part of the partnership with Jio, Samsung sets a new standard in the mobile entertainment space by offering users with a wide range of free entertainment content to cater to the increasing consumer demand for streaming and on-the-go entertainment. For music lovers, Samsung Z2 consumers will have access to Jio Beats, which offers millions of HD songs in over 20 languages. The video streaming app, Jio On Demand, gives access to latest movies, TV shows and other video content across genres and languages.

Better Viewing & Camera Experience

Samsung Z2 is equipped with a superior 4” WVGA screen which allows consumers to enjoy games, videos and other multimedia content to the fullest with superior resolution. The smartphone is equipped with a 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front camera.

SIMPLE

Easy UI, Essential Apps & Features

Samsung Z2 gives an effortless mobile experience with Tizen OS and clutter free, intuitive interface making it easy to understand and use. It comes preloaded with essential apps for the ease of new smartphone users. It also features the ‘Make for India’ features developed specifically for Indian consumers. The Ultra Data Saving mode saves up to 40% mobile data by blocking unnecessary background applications from data consumption and by data compression technology, hence ensuring the most simple and cost-efficient 4G experience. Samsung Z2 comes with a dedicated S bike mode, which is designed considering the safety concerns of two-wheeler users in India. It lets consumers ride tension free while encouraging responsible riding.

My Money Transfer

Samsung Z2 is equipped with a built-in app that enables users to easily manage transactions and generate mini bank statements. A first of its kind initiative, users can enjoy convenient internet free banking by simply using the unique MMID which can be linked to the registered smartphone through M Pin set by the user. Money transfer to/from popular private and public banks is supported using standard IMPS.

Price and Availability

Samsung Z2 has been priced at INR 4,590 and will be available in India from August 29, 2016, in three attractive colours – Gold, Black and Wine Red – across mobile phone retail stores. For online consumers, the device is also available through our online partner Paytm exclusively.

Mr. Amit Bagaria, Vice President, Paytm, said, “We are delighted to roll out Samsung’s much-awaited launch in one of the world’s fastest-growing smartphone market. The new Samsung Z2 will add significant value to the multiple exciting smartphone offerings available to Paytm users. With the reach that the Paytm platform enjoys, with a base of 130 million customers, the partnership allows consumers across the country to effortlessly shop for their favorite Samsung smartphone in a few easy clicks.”

Samsung also sponsored ‘Tizen App Challenge’, a Tizen application contest for Unity developers, which runs from August 18 to November 21, 2016. Any developer providing a Unity-based game application service can enter the contest at https://unity3d.com/partners/samsung/tizen-challenge.

To know more about Z2 please visit: http://www.samsung.com/in/microsite/z2.

“We’re pleased to be a strategic partner of YTL, one of Malaysia’s leaders in innovation,” said Youngky Kim, President and Head of Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “Today’s LTE commercial launch proves our reliability and loyalty to our partner, supporting the successful evolution to a 4G LTE mobile network on top of the existing 4G broadband footprint.”

“Demand for Internet is growing dramatically in Malaysia. We are proud to have closed the digital divide in Malaysia with our 4G Broadband network,” said Wing K. Lee, CEO of YTL Communications. “And we’re excited to continue the lead as Malaysia’s 4G champion with the launch of the largest and most advanced 4G LTE network that enables Malaysians to enjoy blazingly fast Mobile Internet and High Definition voice using VoLTE – a Malaysia first. Samsung has been supporting our quest every step of the way and today marks yet another important milestone in our strategic partnership.”

Through the strategic partnership between YTL and Samsung, YTL is able to deploy its ‘Brand new Yes 4G LTE network’ using Samsung’s end-to-end 4G LTE solutions, including  network equipment for 2.3GHz and 2.6GHz frequency bands, smartphones and even services such as deployment, optimization, maintenance and more.

Samsung also offered innovative VoLTE solutions. The VoLTE service delivers much clearer High Definition (HD) quality voice calls as well as video calls, seamless voice/video call swapping during mobile calls and the ability to share multimedia like images or website links during calls. These new services are all provided on the basis of an all-IP LTE network.

As a leader in the telecommunications industry, over the past 35 years, Samsung has partnered with a number of global mobile service providers, enabling them to deploy state-of-the-art network solutions in their respective markets.

About YTL Communications Sdn Bhd

Yes, a brand under YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (793634-V), is a global frontrunner in 4G Internet and operates two robust 4G LTE and 4G Broadband networks in Malaysia. It is also the first in Malaysia to offer voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) service for high definition, crystal clear calls. With 85% nationwide population coverage across the country, Yes offers the best of both 4G Internet services together in one convenient plan. The award-wining brand has been recognised by the Broadband InfoVision Awards under the ‘Best New Service’ category in 2011 and ‘Best Broadband Cloud’ category in 2013, Frost & Sullivan’s ‘Most Innovative Service Provider of the Year 2012’ and ‘Most Promising Telecom Service Provider of the Year 2013’ as well as Telecoms.com’s “Best Enterprise Cloud Offering” Industry Award in 2014. For more information, please visit www.yes.my.