LONDON, United Kingdom – March 11, 2024 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G, two smartphones that demonstrate Samsung’s ongoing commitment to making the best of mobile innovations available to everyone. Both devices come with extensive security features such as Knox Vault, as well as new photography capabilities inspired by Samsung Galaxy’s flagship camera innovations and a stunning display that adjusts to users’ surroundings with Vision Booster.

“Our ambition is to bring the latest technologies to everyone,” said James Kitto, Vice President and Head of MX Division, Samsung UK and Ireland. “We’re really pleased to be opening up even more possibilities on our competitively priced Galaxy A series devices, including offering Samsung Knox Vault for the first time on this line-up, meaning that users can enjoy our outstanding mobile experiences with even more confidence and security.”

An Entertainment and Creativity Hub with Versatile Photography and Stunning Display

With enhanced Nightography, the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G takes clearer and more vibrant photos even in poor lighting conditions. That means every nighttime photo can reach epic new levels. Galaxy A55 5G’s advanced AI Image Signal Processing (ISP) produces stunning low-light images never seen before on Galaxy A series. It’s not just scenery that looks amazing. Night Portrait mode and 12-bit HDR video ensure the people in every image look great so that capturing memories with friends and family is never dependent on the perfect lighting.

Both Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G offer the incredible photography capabilities that Samsung Galaxy is renowned for, including features such as optical image stabilisation (OIS) and video digital image stabilisation (VDIS) that keep photos and videos crisp even when filming on the go.

The new devices also continue the Galaxy A series’ tradition of making fun and immersive mobile experiences accessible to all. Users can enjoy watching the latest shows or browsing social media with Super AMOLED displays, showing astonishing clarity in Full High Definition. They can also count on the 6.6-inch^[1] screen on both the Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G looking clear and bright in a range of light conditions thanks to Vision Booster. Users can also enjoy their content for longer with both devices supported by a 5000 mAh^[2] battery for two-day battery life^[3].

Democratising Samsung’s Most Powerful Security Innovations to Intelligently Protect More Customers for Longer

This year, Samsung is bringing one of its most innovative flagship security features, Samsung Knox Vault, to Galaxy A series users for the very first time, including on the new Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G. A hardware-based and tamper-resistant security solution, Samsung Knox Vault offers comprehensive protection against both hardware and software attacks by constructing a secure execution environment that is physically isolated from the system’s main processor and memory. It can help protect the most critical data on a device, including lock screen credentials, such as PIN codes, passwords and patterns. Samsung Knox Vault also protects device encryption keys, encrypting users’ private data stored in the device. Only a user who has the correct lock screen credentials can access their data, even if the device is lost or stolen.

The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G are also secured by Samsung Knox, Samsung Galaxy’s multi-layer security platform. One of the most trusted security platforms in the world, Samsung Knox is designed to safeguard critical information and protect against vulnerabilities with end-to-end secure hardware, real-time threat detection and collaborative protection, taking a holistic approach across the entire Galaxy ecosystem.

For even more ways to stay protected, the Samsung Galaxy A series offers Auto Blocker, an opt-in package of additional security measures. When switched on, Auto Blocker can block app installations from unauthorised sources, provide app security checks to scan for potential malware and block potentially malicious commands and software installations to your device while connected by USB cable. New Galaxy A series users will also have access to Galaxy’s Security and Privacy Dashboard, making it easier than ever to see and control what is happening to their data and withdraw any permissions whenever they choose. They can also enjoy Private Sharing (part of Quick Share), which enables the secure and encrypted sharing of private files containing important personal or financial information. To ensure confidentiality, users can control the recipient’s access permissions and the file’s expiration date, while also choosing to limit screenshots or downloads.

The new Galaxy A series smartphones demonstrate Samsung’s commitment to ensure Galaxy devices remain secure and up-to-date for longer. With the Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G, users will continue to benefit from up to four generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades and five years of security updates, optimising the lifecycle of the devices by keeping them equipped with all the latest Galaxy and Android features.

Seamless Connection with the Ever-Expanding Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem

The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G are fully compatible with the Galaxy ecosystem giving users a smooth and integrated experience across a range of Galaxy devices. Users can keep up with their fitness goals by connecting Galaxy Watch6 to their Galaxy A series smartphone. And, thanks to Auto Switch, incoming calls will be automatically switched to connected Galaxy Buds FE for enhanced convenience.

Availability

The Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G will be available in four colour options including, Awesome Ice Blue, Awesome Lemon, Awesome Lilac and Awesome Navy. Both will be available from 20^th March in operators, retailers and on samsung.com.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G RRP:

• 8GB Memory + 128GB Storage, £439
• 8GB Memory + 256GB Storage, £489

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G RRP:

• 8GB Memory + 128GB Storage, £339
• 8GB Memory + 256GB Storage, £389

To find out more about the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G, Galaxy A35 5G and other Galaxy smartphones, please visit: Samsung Newsroom UK, Samsung Mobile Press and Samsung.com.

Specifications:

*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.

[1] Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.6-inch in the full rectangle and 6.4-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.

[2] Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,905mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors

[3] Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, the number of times charged, and many other factors. Estimated against the average usage profile compiled by UX Connect Research. Independently assessed by UX Connect Research between 2024. 01.11-2024.01.20 in UK with pre-release versions of SM-A556 under default setting using LTE and 5G Sub6 networks. NOT tested under 5Gmm Wave network.

For this installation, Samsung is providing its vRAN software supporting Multi-RAT (multiple radio access technology) – across 4G and 5G –and its O-RAN compliant radios in the low- and mid-bands, including its Massive MIMO radios. Samsung has fully integrated its 64T64R Massive MIMO radios into Open RAN, demonstrating its capability to handle integration, which is more complex for 64T64R Massive MIMO radios, in comparison to single-band radios.

This deployment—the largest Open RAN rollout in the UK—is the latest milestone in the expanded collaboration between Vodafone, Samsung and several other partners, since the UK’s first 5G Open RAN site in Bath in January of 2022. Subsequently Samsung supported the installation of Open RAN in Vodafone’s Exmouth and Torquay network, in December of 2022. This was another first for the Open RAN ecosystem.

Using Samsung’s vRAN solutions, Vodafone, Samsung and other partners have proven the capability of Open RAN in Vodafone UK’s commercial network, exceeding the performance of legacy hardware-based RAN in urban locations. Test results exceeded the targeted KPIs, including 4G and 5G downlink and uplink throughput.

“Vodafone has been at the forefront of Open RAN innovation and we are excited to kick-off the mass installation of Open RAN, working together with Samsung Networks and the rest of our ecosystem,” said Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer, Vodafone UK. “After rounds of testing and validation, we are well prepared to embark on this new phase in our Open RAN expansion, and look forward to opening up a new world of possibilities that will transform customer experiences.”

“Now we are witnessing how innovative technologies like Open RAN and vRAN can further bolster 5G capabilities, creating new paths and possibilities for network evolution,” said Junehee Lee, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Sales & Marketing, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “Following this historic milestone in Europe, we will continue working together with Vodafone to take their Open RAN networks to new heights.”

“The release of vRAN 3.0 comes at a good time, as Samsung is extending its vRAN solutions to this major ‘brownfield’ opportunity,” said Joe Madden, Founder & Chief Analyst, Mobile Experts. “This milestone is important because it represents Open RAN replacing legacy solutions at scale in a high-capacity environment, and it sets up Vodafone UK with the flexibility to monetise their RAN better in the future.”

Samsung also supported the automation of vRAN deployments process, easing the management of cell sites from a unified platform.

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, from vRAN 3.0, Open RAN, Core to private network solutions and AI-powered automation tools. The company currently provides network solutions to mobile operators that deliver connectivity to hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

LONDON, UK – April 13, 2022 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Virgin Media O2 announced today the companies have successfully completed the deployment of multiple live 4G and 5G sites in the U.K., advancing the next phase of their collaboration. In tandem with this deployment, the companies also completed the first 5G data call on Virgin Media O2’s commercial 5G network, using the sites.

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 Networks 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 organisations.

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 ensure 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 Networks 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.

At the event, Samsung Networks highlighted key developments in its global expansion, which includes delivery of over four million 5G-ready radios around the world. Samsung focused on how it is advancing virtualisation to drive next-generation networks, and leading 5G radio innovation by embedding its radios with the company’s latest in-house chipsets.

“We are delighted to discuss the infinite possibilities of wireless technology, as we continue our 5G journey, and pave the way towards the next phase of 5G,” said Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun, President and Head of Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung’s 5G vision includes bringing together the best global expertise and technical insights that can help operators and consumers take full advantage of 5G benefits. We’re grateful that our customers and partners have joined us on this journey, and look forward to achieving many more 5G milestones together.”

The following are key areas of advancement that Samsung Networks leadership covered at the virtual event:

Virtualisation

Virtualisation of an entire network from Radio Access Network (RAN) to Core will offer multiple benefits to operators, bringing greater efficiency, scalability and flexibility in network management, as well as easier upgrades through software implementations. Recent vRAN accomplishments include the following solutions:

• Samsung vRAN has virtualised all elements of a baseband unit. Backed by years of R&D, Samsung deployed the industry’s first fully-virtualised commercial 5G RAN delivered end-to-end (Link). Recently, the company demonstrated the capability to support multi-gigabit speeds of Massive MIMO radios on COTS servers (Link), showing how the performance of vRAN technology is now near the performance of custom hardware solutions.
• Samsung vCore is built with a cloud-native containerised architecture, enabling operational automation while ensuring optimized performance. With high adaptability and scalability, Samsung 5G vCore allows network operators to quickly launch new services and upgrade per business needs. Since introducing its first virtualised Core in 2015, the company has successfully commercialised the world’s first 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) vCore, and achieved a significant milestone in data processing capacity on its 5G Standalone (SA) Core. (Link).
• Network management solutions help optimise operational efficiencies in virtualised networks. Samsung Cloud Orchestration, known as SCO, coordinates an entirely automated process of network deployment and optimisation. Samsung’s Network Slice Manager supports simplified management of slice resources, while AI-based analytics provides intelligent analysis of network performance.

5G Radios

Samsung has been pioneering 5G technology to support RAN solutions for more than a decade, through research, standardisation and commercial rollouts of its highly competitive 5G solutions. New developments are:

• In-House Chipsets: Samsung continues its leadership in chipset research and development, with an expanded line-up of new chipsets, including a 3^rd generation RFIC, 2^nd generation 5G modem and DFE-RFIC integrated chip (Link), part of the company’s initiative to help foster compact and efficient, yet high-performing 5G solutions.
• New Solutions: Samsung continues to expand its 5G radio lineup. The company recently unveiled its wideband radio (Link) supporting 400MHz of bandwidth in mid-band, and designed to help operators drive more flexible and cost-effective deployments. Also introduced are the next generation 5G Compact Macro and baseband units, as well as its new One Antenna Radio (Link), a solution that delivers a more compact form factor with antenna integration, offering simplified installation and deployment efficiencies.

Private Networks

Samsung has the capability to build reliable and secure private networks, leveraging its comprehensive solutions portfolio. The company’s industry-leading 5G solutions offer a resilient backbone to private 5G networks, introducing use cases such as smart factories (Link) and a real-time 4K video monitoring system (Link). Samsung also provides end-to-end PS-LTE solutions, from network equipment to applications and devices. The company is powering the world’s first 3GPP-compliant nationwide PS-LTE network in Korea (Link), and accomplished the demonstration of the industry first MCPTX video call on a cloud platform. (Link).

6G Future Vision
As part of its networks overview, Samsung Networks: Redefined shares Samsung’s vision of 6G technology, and the world it will help create. Samsung stays ahead in preparing for new generations of wireless technologies. The company led 5G research and development even before 4G deployments, and is already preparing for 6G. Now, the company is set to accelerate 6G innovation, bringing hyper-connected experiences to users (Link). Samsung recently explored the potential of the Terahertz (THz) spectrum application for 6G wireless communications, demonstrating an end-to-end 140GHz wireless link using a fully digital beamforming solution (Link).

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 virtualised 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 new chipsets were announced today at “Samsung Networks: Redefined,” the company’s virtual public event highlighting notable 5G accomplishments and new solutions for network transformation. At the event, Samsung emphasised its experience in developing in-house chipsets for more than two decades and reiterated the significant investments behind the launch of multiple generations of chipsets starting from 3G, leading to today’s cutting-edge 5G solutions.

The newly introduced chipsets are designed to take Samsung’s next generation 5G lineup to a new level, boosting performance, increasing power efficiency and reducing the size of the 5G solutions.

Samsung’s newly-introduced chips are:

3^rd Generation mmWave RFIC:

• This new chip follows prior generation RFICs from Samsung. The first generation, introduced in 2017, powered the company’s 5G FWA solutions supporting the world’s first 5G home broadband service in the U.S. Two years later, the second generation powered Samsung’s 5G Compact Macro, the industry’s first mmWave 5G NR radio, which has since been widely deployed in the U.S.
• Samsung’s 3^rd generation RFIC chip supports both 28GHz and 39GHz spectrums, and will be embedded in Samsung’s next generation 5G Compact Macro. The chip incorporates advanced technology that reduces antenna size by nearly 50%, maximising the 5G radio’s interior space. Moreover, the latest RFIC chip improves power consumption, resulting in a more compact-sized, lightweight 5G radio. Lastly, output power and coverage of the new RFIC chip has increased, doubling output power of the next generation 5G Compact Macro.

2^nd Generation 5G Modem SoC:

• Samsung’s first 5G modem SoCs, introduced in 2019, powered the company’s new 5G baseband unit and Compact Macro. To date, more than 200,000 of these 5G modem SoCs have been shipped.
• This new second generation chip will enable Samsung’s forthcoming baseband unit to have twice the capacity, while cutting power consumption in half per cell, in comparison to the previous generation. Moreover, supporting both below-6GHz and mmWave spectrums, it offers beamforming and increased power efficiency for Samsung’s next generation 5G Compact Macro and Massive MIMO radio, while reducing the size for both solutions.

DFE-RFIC Integrated Chip:

• In 2019, the first Digital/Analog Front End (DAFE) chip was introduced by Samsung, serving as an essential component of 5G radios (including Samsung’s 5G Compact Macro), by converting analog-to-digital and vice versa, and supporting both 28GHz and 39GHz spectrums.
• This new chip combines RFIC and DFE functions for both below-6GHz and mmWave spectrums. By integrating these functions, the chip not only doubles frequency bandwidth, but also reduces the size and increases output power for Samsung’s next generation solutions, including 5G Compact Macro.

“This newly unveiled chipset is the fundamental component of our state-of-art 5G solutions, developed through a long-standing R&D effort that enables Samsung to be at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge 5G technologies,” said Junehee Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “As one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world, we are committed to developing the most innovative chips for the next phase of 5G advancement, integrated with the features mobile operators seek to stay competitive.”

Samsung has pioneered the successful delivery of 5G end-to-end solutions including chipsets, radios, and core. This includes the creation and shipment of innovative chips from Samsung’s manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas. Through ongoing research and development, Samsung drives the industry to advance 5G networks with its market-leading product portfolio from fully virtualised 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.

As operators continue to extend their 5G coverage, a key challenge they face is the space and footprint restrictions at sites and on towers. Samsung’s all-in-one radio will address varied environmental and site demands–easing installation, saving space and reducing OPEX for operators. The new solution will become part of Samsung’s Radio Access Network (RAN) portfolio in early 2022, initially targeting the European market.

Key benefits of Samsung’s One Antenna Radio are:

• Site Simplification: The streamlined solution uses compact hardware to blend into a municipality’s environment, and reduces cabling and hardware elements to minimize visual impact in dense urban areas.
• Simplified Installation: Deployment is made simple by eliminating the need to install and connect radios and multiple antennas separately, accelerating installation and reducing labor costs.
• OPEX Savings: By requiring less space on sites or towers, and with a smaller footprint, operators can save on expenses, including rental and maintenance costs.

“We are proud to introduce our One Antenna Radio to provide industry-leading performance that’s designed to address various deployment environments,” said Wonil Roh, Senior Vice President and Head of Product Strategy, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “Recognising that mounting hardware, cabling, crew site time and space limitations are a challenge for most operators, we created a solution to help tackle this issue, and expand deployment boundaries.”

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 virtualised 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.

On June 22, Samsung Electronics will reveal how it is leading the evolution of next-generation networks at the event of “Samsung Networks: Redefined”.

Join us to discover how the company’s cutting-edge technologies will help unleash the full power of 5G, ultimately creating a more seamlessly connected society.

The event will be available at Samsung Newsroom, Samsung Networks’ YouTube channel beginning at 15:00 BST.

LONDON, UK – 11 December 2020 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd didn’t just help introduce 5G to the world – they’ve been setting new records.

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

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

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

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

Leading the 5G Transformation

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

Samsung’s leading research and development teams, as well as collaborations with standardisation groups and carriers, enabled the technology to deliver faster data speeds and higher bandwidth promised by 5G[2]. In 2009, it started research into ultra-high frequency mmWave technology. By 2013, it reached speeds above 1Gbps in test trials (Link) and a year later, broke its own record by using mmWave to reach 7.5Gbps (Link).

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

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

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

Partnerships with Xbox, for example, provide Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with console-quality graphics and access to their favourite titles on the go via cloud gaming (Beta) with devices like the Galaxy Note20 5G. With social distancing and workplaces going remote, optimisations for Google Duo[3] have ensured high-quality video chats connect people to family, friends, and colleagues. Together with various industry partners, Samsung has also been helping enterprises harness the true potential of 5G in private networks. It has importantly collaborated with public cloud leaders to simplify the deployment of private 5G networks for enterprises to bring intelligent solutions into workspaces.

These innovations are available on Samsung’s full portfolio of 5G devices, which includes affordable mid-range devices in the Galaxy A series, , high-end tablets like the Galaxy TabS7+, and more. But this is just the beginning of Samsung’s plans for 5G.

Making 5G Available to More People

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

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

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

This year, Samsung introduced the power of network virtualisation by bringing its fully virtualised 5G RAN (vRAN) to the market, providing mobile operators with flexible, scalable, cost-efficient 5G networks with superior performance. It also unveiled Samsung’s Link Cell, a 5G indoor solution which enables operators to provide enhanced, seamless 5G experiences for their users.

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

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

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

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

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

[3] Google is a trademark of Google LLC

Hosted by mathematician, Dr Hannah Fry and award-winning comedian Suzi Ruffell, each episode of the Whatever Next? podcast will focus on a different hot topic. From personalising the ending of the films we watch, to revolutionising the food on our plates, every instalment will discover the many ways 5G is shaping our future – helping people get under the skin of its impact.

The podcast aims to get to the heart of the potential around 5G and lifts the lid on the many weird and wonderful ways it will impact our lives. Whilst none of us really know what the future holds, Hannah and Suzi explore how – with the combination of ideas, 5G and cutting-edge technology – we all have the power to create whatever’s next. Whatever Next? Brings Fry and Ruffell together with top experts in eight episodes that will air regularly between now and Christmas.

Episodes 1-4 of Whatever Next? include:

• Episode One: Films that you can direct with your face…Whatever next?

Have you ever wanted to give a film a different ending? In this first episode, Doctor Hannah Fry and comedian Suzi Ruffell look at how this might be possible in the very near future, thanks to 5G.

• Episode Two: A camera with superpowers…Whatever next?

Cameras with superpowers, apps that help people with visual impairments see and pictures you can never lose. The hosts give us a snapshot into the ever-changing world of photography.

• Episode Three: Brain controlled gaming…Whatever next?

We’ve gone from joysticks to VR headsets in a flash. The gaming industry is constantly changing and it’s hard to keep up. This episode looks at how gaming technology is helping to manage disaster relief and is being used in exposure therapy.

• Episode Four: 5G Connected Cows…Whatever next?

From farming crops to printing out our food, the food industry is being revolutionised by new technology. Fry and Ruffell get up close and personal with a 5G cow – yes a 5G cow – and record the episode while sipping on some sweet 5G wine.

Comedian host, Suzi Ruffell, said “This podcast has taken me on an incredible and frankly hilarious journey to explore all areas of 5G, breaking it down in a way that surprises, delights and makes sense of a pretty misunderstood topic. I’m sure by the end of it I’ll feel like a technology wiz and hopefully this podcast will help other people to feel the same.”

Fellow host, Dr Hannah Fry explains “Skipping traffic jams, sizing up 5G cows and drinking 5G wine? Who knew that was a thing! In Whatever Next? we combine cutting-edge technology, passionate experts and 5G connectivity to unearth some very nifty innovations.”

The new Whatever Next? Podcast, exploring how 5G is shaping our future and brought to you by Samsung, is available via ACAST on all major podcast platforms: https://www.samsung.com/uk/5G