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[Interview] Next Generation Business Executive Explains How Samsung Is Creating the Future of 5G

Samsung Newsroom — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:00:39 +0000

For over 30 years, Samsung Electronics has carved out a position as a leading provider and innovator of mobile telecommunications technologies.

The company is now bringing its drive and passion for innovation to next-generation mobile advancements, playing a leading role in 5G development and standardization. Samsung has already begun trialing technology in the field in cooperation with pioneering service providers in the United States, Japan and Europe.

Paul Kyungwhoon Cheun, Executive Vice President and Head of the Next Generation Business Team, explains the company’s most recent 5G developments and what the future of mobile communications has to offer.

Q. First of all, what exactly is 5G?

A. 5G means a lot of different things to different people within the industry. The aspects that are most talked about today, such as improvements to throughput and latency, are parts of a much larger puzzle that the telecommunications industry is working hard to construct. The end goal of 5G is to fundamentally transform the way we make use of mobile connectivity.

That, of course, means a significantly faster and more responsive user experience for people. However, it also means enabling an entirely new dimension of use cases that go beyond the traditional boundaries of the mobile industry by pulling in dozens of previously unconnected or under-connected industries – from automotive and home entertainment to city planning and public safety. In fact, our earliest 5G trials have already begun to explore use cases that have not typically leveraged wireless connectivity in the past.

Q. How will 5G impact the people’s user experience?

A. For the typical mobile users, 5G will enable a much richer media experience overall. Next-generation networks will be capable of delivering multi-gigabit throughputs and extremely low latencies, even in highly dense locations. Some of the first major use cases will be highly responsive 4K video content and 360-degree virtual and augmented reality experiences.

For example, musicians from across the globe will now be able to pick up their instruments and play together, while fans watch in real-time. Such scenario requires both bandwidth to support multi-way UHD video streams and extremely low latencies that allow players to remain in-sync and on-beat.

Additionally, a defining goal of 5G is to introduce an entirely new paradigm of connectivity. A key focus for service providers will be development and introduction of revolutionary new services beyond traditional mobile industry offerings to a new set of customers.

Q. What is Samsung doing to differentiate itself from other vendors exploring 5G?

A. Most importantly, Samsung brings unparalleled, end-to-end expertise to its 5G efforts. The company is ideally positioned to explore the Internet of Things, for example, with established strengths in network infrastructure, device manufacturing and chipset development, as well as market leadership in household appliances and consumer electronics.

Samsung has established a Next Generation Business Team to recruit talented staff from every part of the company, including chipset, mobile device and networks divisions, in order to specifically focus on the challenges and opportunities of the fast-approaching 5G era.

We also have been one of the strongest contributors to the standardization of 5G technologies, working closely with operators, academic organizations and international standards bodies such as ITU-R and 3GPP.

Q. What kinds of technology is Samsung using in its 5G trials and what are the challenges the trials are designed to explore?

A. One of the core focuses of our early 5G trials has been the delivery of high throughput and high capacity connectivity over relatively dense footprints. Today’s LTE networks generally communicate using radio frequencies between 600 and 2600 MHz, which has now become a very crowded space. In order to meet the goals of our 5G vision, Samsung has been exploring the usage of ultra-high frequency spectrum, commonly called millimeter waves (or mmWave). There are extremely large portions of this spectrum that are unused or under-used – easily five to ten times more than the total amount available for LTE.

Until a few years ago, millimeter waves were a large unknown for the industry. They have a unique set of characteristics and challenges. For example, mmWaves have a more difficult time penetrating solid objects and are much more easily absorbed in the air when compared to the lower LTE frequencies. Because of this, the potential of mobile communications at these high frequencies has been at the core of our research and development over the past four years, and is now playing a significant role in our 5G field trials.

Adaptive beamforming is one of the technologies designed to overcome the challenges at high frequencies. Beamforming works by tightly focusing the radio waves into individual beams that are targeted independently at each device. A combination of small antenna arrays and advanced signal processing makes this possible, enabling high quality signals and incredible data throughputs.

Q. Samsung recently completed a demo of multi-cell handover capability in 5G. Can you describe why this is important?

A. Handover is a defining aspect of mobile networks. Samsung’s early successes in this area demonstrate our focus on practical technology innovation.

Base stations have a limited range depending on their frequency and output power. As users move around the network, they will inevitably move beyond the coverage area of a given base station and will need to connect to another station. In LTE, the network and the device need to coordinate this transition perfectly to avoid dropped calls or service interruptions.

With 5G, this becomes even more complicated because radio signals are being actively beamed to users. Thus 5G networks also need to coordinate the beam formation between the base stations during the handover to maintain signal quality, throughput and user experience.

Samsung is the first vendor to develop a solution for this challenge, and has successfully showcased the ability to handover in a fraction of a second without any negative impact on user experience. Recently, our three-cell field test network demonstrated average throughputs above 1 gigabit per second, while the device moved through the network at a speed of 25km/h.

Q. Speaking of chipset developments, what is Samsung doing in this area?

A. While there has been a lot of emphasis on mmWave spectrum and beamforming, chipset development is also a key focus of Samsung’s end-to-end mobile strategy. Up until now, trial equipment has been fairly large, including the cabinet-sized base stations and “user devices” that must be mounted on the top of a vehicle. Advanced chipsets will allow smaller devices and base stations and enable the ultra-broadband throughputs expected from 5G.

Samsung’s pioneering research efforts have included the development of key technologies for 5G-capable RFIC chipsets, which are integrated chipsets small enough to fit into typical smartphone devices. At MWC this year, we showcased a 5G-ready smartphone prototype featuring the 60GHz version of this chipset. In the near future, we will follow suit with a prototype 28GHz chipset.

Q. What does the introduction of 5G mean for other technologies, such as LTE and WiFi?

A. 5G will transform the way we think about mobile networks, and the deployment of end-to-end 5G infrastructure will positively impact existing and future radio access technologies. Keep in mind that the radio enhancements, we’re focused on today represent just one among of the several key components of what will make 5G so transformative.

With the implementation of several other technologies, such as virtualization and software-defined networking, Samsung is exploring the potential of what we call a “Multi-Link architecture.” Built for next generation networks, this architecture will introduce powerful and adaptive interworking between 5G and virtually any other modern radio access method – from LTE and WiFi to LPWA technologies and more. With Multi-Link, the network can efficiently meet the connectivity needs of any given user, device or service in real-time. To accomplish this, next-generation networks will be able to automatically leverage available network resources and technologies – each of which excel in different use cases – without manual configuration or network service planning.

Q. When can we expect to see 5G commercialization?

A. Samsung is now working very closely with service providers, governments and standards bodies alike to accelerate the standardization and readiness of 5G technologies. We are expecting to see some of the earliest implementations of 5G – focused on fixed wireless applications – go live in late 2017 or early 2018. Fixed wireless applications will enable more people to access gigabit per second internet connections at home by providing a compelling alternative to fiber-based connectivity. Samsung is taking a leading position in defining this market which is expected to grow to tens of billions dollars in the US market, with even greater opportunities globally.

The first mobile broadband applications are being developed in parallel, and Samsung is preparing to deliver 5G trial service by early 2018 in PyeongChang, Korea. By 2020, broader commercialization will take place in Korea and similar markets, including Japan and the United States.

Related articles:

Samsung Delivers on Gigabit Wireless Promise of 5G

Samsung Electronics and Deutsche Telekom Demonstrate World’s First End-to-End 5G Solution at Mobile World Congress 2016

Samsung and KDDI Collaborate to Create Next Generation 5G Technologies

Samsung Electronics and LG U+ Signed MoU for Next Generation 5G Technology

mmMAGIC Technologies to Unlock Spectrum Above 6Ghz, Including Millimetre Wave Bands, for 5G’s Extreme Mobile Broadband

SamsungTomorrow — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 09:00:11 +0000

mmMAGIC, an international consortium led by Samsung and bringing together key vendors and major European operators has kicked off its race to develop concepts and key components for a new 5G mobile radio access technology which is expected to operate in a range of frequency bands between 6 and 100 GHz, including mm-Wave frequencies. The use of such extremely high frequencies for mobile communications is challenging but necessary for supporting 5G’s extreme mobile broadband service which will require very high (up to 10 Gbps) data rates, and in some scenarios, also very low end-to-end latencies (less than 5 ms). The project aims to accelerate standardisation of millimeter wave technologies for 5G so that the industry and citizens will benefit from commercialisation by 2020.

The mmMAGIC project is co-funded by the European Commission’s 5G PPP program, bringing together major infrastructure vendors (Samsung, Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, Intel, Nokia), major European operators (Orange, Telefonica), leading research institutes and universities (Fraunhofer HHI, CEA LETI, IMDEA Networks, Universities Aalto, Bristol, Chalmers and Dresden), measurement equipment vendors (Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz) and one SME (Qamcom).

mmMAGIC is led and coordinated by Samsung. Ericsson acts as technical manager while Intel, Fraunhofer HHI, Nokia, Huawei and Samsung will each lead one of the five technical work packages of the project. The project was officially launched 1st of July and will last for two years. However, the consortium decided to jump-start its research three months ahead of the official EC launch in order to deliver its first results by the end of July.

The mmMAGIC project will develop and design new concepts for mobile radio access technology (RAT) for deployment in the 6-100 GHz range, including novel waveform, frame structure and numerology, novel adaptive and cooperative beam-forming and tracking techniques to address the specific challenges of millimetre wave mobile propagation. This new RAT is envisaged as a key component in the overall 5G multi-RAT ecosystem.

Seamless and flexible integration with other 5G and LTE radio interfaces are foreseen in the design of mmMAGIC’s radio network architecture and this will be realized through improved and entirely novel inter-networking functionalities that will be developed in the project. Self-backhauling and front hauling capabilities are also foreseen, thereby creating a holistic, scalable and economically viable integrated 5G solution to meet future needs of operators, enabling, for example, ultra-high definition TV and video streaming, virtual reality, immersive experience, and ultra-responsive cloud services in 5G for mobile users.

The project will undertake extensive radio channel measurements in the 6-100 GHz range at multiple locations in Europe, and will develop advanced channel models that will be used for rigorous validation and feasibility analysis of the proposed concepts and system, as well as for usage in regulatory and standards fora. The ambition of the project is to pave the way for a European head start in 5G standards and to be a focal point for European and global consensus building on the architecture, key components and spectrum for 5G systems operating above 6 GHz.

Following its official launch, over 60 delegates gathered at Samsung R&D Institute UK (SRUK) 7-8 July to discuss mmMAGIC’s first findings and launch project’s highly ambitious measurement campaigns, which will take place over the next 9 months in Germany, France, Finland, Sweden and the UK. During the next 9 months. Other technologies areas covered in mmMAGIC Kick-off meeting included 5G millimetre wave architecture and integration, radio interface design, and multi-antenna and advanced cooperation schemes to realise an “edgeless” Gbps experience for mobile users.

Chang Yeong Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Multimedia and Communications R&D of Samsung Electronics, said: “Completely novel and innovative approaches to mobile communications using higher frequency bands above 6 GHz are crucial to realise the envisaged 5G services with diverse and challenging requirements. Samsung believes that mmMAGIC will be the flagship consortium that encompasses all its key technical aspects and delivers globally harmonized solutions which truly open up an era of 5G.”

Dr. Sara Mazur, Vice President and Head of Ericsson Research, said: “With 5G the industry target a game change in mobile communication. 5G will enable digitalization of industries, the Internet of Things, and broadband everywhere. We are strongly convinced that 5G radio access will be realized as an integrated radio access based on millimeter wave technology, evolved LTE, and possibly additional radio interfaces. To pave way for smooth standardization, Ericsson see a great value in teaming up with key industries, operators, and academic partners in pre-standardization research. With its great composition, the mmMAGIC project provides an unparalleled opportunity to share and align ideas to accelerate the development of a new radio interface concept for higher frequencies that in the end will benefit not only European and the global telecom industry, but more important society and the end-users.”

Dr. Wen Tong, Vice President of Wireless Research and CTO of Wireless of Huawei Technologies, said: “5G wireless will exploit the usage of millimetre wave technology to boost the access speed, this is an exciting new frontier and a lot technology challenges ahead us to make it a commercial success, we are pleased to see mmMAGIC as one of the pioneering effort to make breakthrough in this field.”

Tod Sizer, Bell Labs Wireless Research Program Leader, from Alcatel-Lucent, said:“ To continue to increase capacity in 5G, more spectrum will be required. In addition to spectrum at traditional cellular bands, use of spectrum at centimeter and millimeter wave frequencies offers great opportunities with large blocks of available spectrum, albeit with significant technical challenges. Within mmMAGIC we hope to explore new types of applications which will be enabled by the very high burst speeds that this new spectrum can provide, as well as formulate new methods of controlling this new spectrum by pairing it with new 5G solutions at lower frequencies in order to provide the high quality and reliable service the end users expect.”

Keysight Technologies, Inc.: Jay Alexander, CTO said: “As leading organizations work to develop and deploy the world’s next-generation communications systems, Keysight is delighted to be part of the mmMAGIC consortium. We have been involved in mm-Wave design, simulation, and measurements for three decades. mmMAGIC represents a world-class group of wireless leaders and adds to a list of ongoing engagements we have in our commitment to wireless leadership.

Read more: https://5g-ppp.eu/mmmagic/

Contact: Dr Maziar Nekovee (Coordinator) Samsung

E-mail: m.nekovee@samsung.com

Background on the EU’s Horizon 2020 5G PPP initiative Horizon 2020 is the largest EU research and innovation programme ever, with nearly €80 billion in public funding available over seven years (2014-2020) in addition to the private investment it will attract. The 5G Public-Private Partnership (5G PPP) is an instrument launched as part of Horizon 2020, with a budget of €700 million in public funding expected to leverage five times this amount (€3.5 billion) in private investment.