Shining a Light on 5G Industry Progress

For almost a decade, Samsung and our partners across industry and government have worked tirelessly to develop and nurture the technologies that will thrust the world into a whole new level of intelligence and connectivity. Often referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, this fundamental shift will change the way consumers, business and governments interact with the world around them through unprecedented wireless connectivity.

At the epicenter of this revolution is the next generation wireless technology known as 5G. Indeed, while AI, cloud computing, advanced algorithms and other advancements are changing how we use and interact with technology, the high speed, low latency and massive throughput generated by 5G will be the catalyst for new applications and use cases to truly thrive.

But U.S. leadership in 5G is not guaranteed. The U.S. government has spent the last two years positioning our nation for the race to 5G deployment by freeing up critical bands of wireless spectrum, streamlining the cell siting process and updating other outdated regulations standing in the way of deployment.  In particular:

• 5G needs low, mid and high band spectrum. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has moved forward with high-band and low-band spectrum for the U.S. market, but more progress is needed in mid-band spectrum.

• 5G needs rapid deployment of infrastructure. The FCC last year adopted rules that guide local governments in avoiding unreasonable fees and delays in small-cell site approvals. Some forward-looking local governments have raced ahead with streamlined regulations and have reaped the reward in 5G investments by carriers.

As was the case with the rollout of LTE and each preceding generation of wireless technology, it’s now up to the private sector, including our carrier partners, to build the 5G network with the efficiency and effectiveness that only private investment can provide.

And we’re off to a great start. As noted by Larry Kudlow, Director of the National Economic Council, during CTIA’s 5G Summit in Washington D.C. last month, there have been 92 new U.S. 5G deployments since CTIA’s first annual 5G Summit in April 2018, many of which are using Samsung’s 5G technology.

We at Samsung could not be more excited by this progress, especially since we are currently the only company whose portfolio spans the entire 5G ecosystem with a trusted, flexible supply chain. From chips and network equipment to mobile devices and smart appliances, Samsung is a global 5G leader, uniquely positioned to bring the power of 5G to our customers.  In the past year, leading mobile operators, including AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon in the United States, have selected Samsung as a 5G network solutions provider.

Samsung 5G-ready massive MIMO equipment used in Sprint’s 5G network in Chicago.

With our carrier partners, we’re ready to put 5G to work today, beginning with near-term use cases that can transform factories, sports and entertainment venues, neighborhoods and transportation corridors while a widespread 5G network is being deployed in parallel.

Delivering the opening industry keynote speech for the second year in a row at CTIA’s 5G Summit, Samsung Electronics North America President & CEO Tim Baxter discussed what he sees as the most compelling 5G applications ready for deployment today and why they are worthy of serious excitement.

Fixed Broadband

Starting in 2018, Samsung supplied network equipment for Verizon 5G Home, the first commercial 5G service.  5G Home is bringing ultra-fast, reliable service to consumers in Sacramento, Houston, and other cities, creating more choices for consumer broadband.

Mobile

Later this month, Samsung will release the Galaxy S10 5G smartphone, giving consumers the power and speed of a fiber connection in their pocket. Just as 4G LTE transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, so too will 5G. From the home, the office, and everywhere in between, 5G’s mobile applications will enable faster, more accessible connectivity for using new technologies like cloud-gaming, augmented reality (AR), and even mobile 8K video streaming.

Smart Homes

5G offers turbo-charged network broadband, 20 times faster than 4G LTE, with 10 times lower latency. What that means for smart homes is that more devices can be remotely controlled, even from a long distance — with lag-free, near-instantaneous reaction times. With faster data rates, 5G mobile devices can receive and display higher resolution content with less buffering, making it a great way to monitor and control our connected homes.

America’s first manufacturing-focused 5G testbed will be located at Samsung Austin Semiconductor, featuring AT&T’s 5G wireless technology with Samsung’s 5G network equipment.

Smart Factories

Last year, Samsung announced we are working with AT&T to create America’s first manufacturing-focused 5G “Innovation Zone” at our leading-edge semiconductor factory in Austin, Texas, to gain insights into how 5G can lay the foundation for safer and more efficient smart factories. With technology available today, smart factories can maximize 5G’s potential with AR applications to assist workers, video analytics to improve safety and security, and automation to improve operational efficiency.

Entertainment

5G in stadiums, arenas and other entertainment venues will forever change the experience of seeing a live event by allowing fans to connect and interact simultaneously on a mass scale so that these venues can offer enhanced fan experiences such as customized 4K video, alternate views of athletes, and AR/VR streaming.

Transportation

Connected cars and trucks will be safer to drive with constant updates on traffic and road conditions and enhanced collision avoidance, taking full advantage of 5G’s extreme low latency and large-scale sensor support.  With 5G and Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology communicating with smartphones and wearables, pedestrians, bicyclists, and even scooter riders will be safer too.

These examples are only a taste of 5G’s potential. By providing society with access to content and connectivity wherever we are, the moment we want it, 5G’s future uses are limited only by the imaginations of the innovators who will invent them.

For more on Samsung’s leadership in 5G, download Samsung’s 5G brochure from the press kit.

About the contributor
John Godfrey is senior vice president of Public Policy at Samsung Electronics America.