US-based telecom operator Verizon has selected Samsung Electronics to assist in advancing its 4G LTE Open RAN initiative.
ALSO READ: Latest news from Mobile World Congress 2018
Increase in network efficiency, inter-carrier interoperability, and virtualized RAN and 5G commercialization are the focus areas of the telecom engineers who will see the execution of the new partnership between Samsung and Verizon. Samsung did not financial details of the telecom contract.
Samsung’s business development team will be supplying equipment including Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) and Baseband Units (BBUs) to Verizon. Verizon network engineers will be ensuring the timely deployment of the key network elements in order to support Verizon’s Open RAN initiative by allowing the ability to interwork with other ecosystem providers.
All supporting equipment will continue to enable Verizon’s LTE Advanced capabilities as well as current CAT-M and future Narrow Band IoT platforms, said Mark Louison, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Networks Division, Samsung Electronics America.
“We are committed to offering our customers a best-in-class network experience through enabling new technology partnerships in an open network ecosystem,” said Ed Chan, chief technology architect, Corporate Network & Technology, Verizon.
Samsung Networks has been providing femto cells to Verizon for many years. The Korea based technology infrastructure company said this latest agreement expands the companies’ relationship to include larger scale 4G LTE Macro gear. This includes incorporating the next generation of Samsung Baseband Units and Remote Radio Heads, with planned deployment in 2018.
Samsung Electronics earlier announced its 5G deal with Verizon to supply 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network solutions. The two companies will begin by launching commercial 5G services in Sacramento, California in the second half of 2018.
Samsung and Verizon conducted 5G customer trials across seven U.S. cities in early 2017, and have tested and verified 5G performance using millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequency to provide FWA pre-commercial service.
