Samsung has made continuous advancements in connectivity technologies with the first commercial application of LTE technology in modems in 2009, first one-gigabit-per-second (Gbps) modem with 5CA (Carrier Aggregation) in 2016, and first 1.2Gbps modem with 6CA in 2017. With 1.2Gbps, the download of a two-hour-long HD movie on a mobile device can be completed in just ten seconds. This type of ongoing innovation in connectivity will serve as the foundation to bring people closer together through future applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT), automotive and so on.

Owing to the recent trends, demand for such connectivity capabilities in mobile devices have seen tremendous growth, and required a delicate combination with a device’s processing power. Samsung’s family of branded application processors (AP), the Exynos series, has demonstrated industry-leading performance in global flagship devices over the years. The family of APs was the first to introduce a slew of innovations in chipsets such as the big.LITTLE architecture and the 14- and 10-nanometer process technologies that have elevated our mobile experiences and equipped us to do more. In 2015, Exynos chipsets with connectivity functionalities finally became available in a single-chip solution, providing device manufacturers with more flexibility in design and efficiency.

While Samsung’s advancements in LTE technologies have paved the way to support carriers and smartphone manufacturers with voice calling features, the missing piece of the puzzle for us, in spite of Exynos’ proven track record, was CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). Without the support of the major radio technology system used in mobile devices, we had limitations in providing our latest technology to certain regions that requires related network specifications.

As part of an effort to tighten our edge in connectivity offerings, we incorporated the modem development team previously at one of Samsung’s research centers, under the System LSI Business’ roof in 2014. The move paid off.

With the recent launch of Exynos 7872, the Exynos System-on-Chips (SoC) can currently support all six communication standards in the market (CDMA, GSM, TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, LTE-FDD, LTE-TDD) to meet the needs of devices across various segments. The added boost has naturally led to an active engagement with global mobile manufacturers that will allow more consumers to choose smart devices with the benefits of Exynos SoCs.

The possibilities and expectations for 5G excite us, and Exynos, armed with next-generation connectivity technologies, will continue to be a crucial part of this breakthrough moment. As we prepare for the major changes to come, Samsung plans to build on its development capabilities and expand collaboration with global partners to bring about powerful and connected SoC solutions for tomorrow.

Earlier this year, the Samsung Exynos 9 Series (8895) SoC presented its Cat.16 LTE modem with 1.0 gigabit (Gb) downlink speed and the industry’s first 5CA support. By working closely with Anritsu, a telecommunication measuring instrument provider, Samsung’s new Cat.18 6CA-supported LTE modem technology achieves up to 1.2 Gbps downlink speed. The 20-percent improvement in maximum downlink speed can allow mobile device users to download a full-length movie in HD resolution within 10 seconds. Users will also be able to enjoy buffer-less video calls and mobile live-broadcasting.

Carrier aggregation (CA) combines a given number of component carriers with various bandwidths, improving data transfer rates and network performance. By increasing the aggregation capability from the previous model’s five bandwidths to six, the new LTE modem technology will offer faster yet more stable data transfers. Furthermore, the technology supports 4×4 MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) and higher-order 256 QAM (Quadrature amplitude modulation) scheme to maximize the data transfer rate. By utilizing enhanced Licensed-Assisted Access (eLAA) that can aggregate licensed and unlicensed spectra, the technology also allows telecommunications operators to make fuller use of their equipment.

“With the increase of high-quality online content services, the demand for high-performance LTE modems continue to rise as well,” said Woonhaing Hur, Vice President of System LSI Protocol Development at Samsung Electronics. “The 1.2Gbps maximum downlink speed with 6CA support highlights Samsung’s leading design capabilities and well-positions Samsung for the upcoming 5G era.”

Samsung’s mobile processor adopting the new Cat.18 6CA-supported LTE modem technology is expected to be in mass production by the end of this year.