Wireless networks are going through a paradigm shift with the emergence of Open RAN. This new approach to architecting a multi-vendor network fosters innovation, agility, and cost efficiency in deploying and operating 5G networks. More importantly, it serves users better and faster than ever. However, there are mixed opinions in the industry and varied approaches to materializing the vision of Open RAN.   Open RAN represents a paradigm shift in RAN architecture, where the traditional...

Fixed Wireless Access, or FWA, has emerged as a powerful enabler in the mobile landscape and is one method being used to fulfill the growing user demand for data. FWA is another offering to provide high-speed internet access to homes, businesses, and remote areas without relying on traditional wired connections like fiber or cable lines for the ‘last mile’ of connectivity. The demand for FWA itself among broadband users is growing with analyst firms expecting FWA users to reach 14-18 million...

With much of the world standing on the brink of mainstream 5G usage, operators are looking for ways to extract maximum value from their network investments – essentially trying to figure out how to monetize 5G. Operators have spent the past few years on things like spectrum, working to increase base stations needed for sufficient coverage and capacity, and implementing new software tools that allow for autonomous networks and faster delivery of services and upgrades. Providers are now...

5G is the first wireless technology designed to be energy efficient and sustainable with an industry target of 90% improvement in spectral efficiency compared to 4G. This improvement, in large part, also requires energy efficiency in the equipment. Operators and vendors have devised several features to accomplish this goal including increasing spectrum bands supported in a single radio and Massive MIMO antenna capacity, beamforming, and an increasing the use of high-band frequencies. Samsung...

Virtual Radio Access Networks, or vRAN, are the future of the radio access side of mobile operators’ networks. vRAN is software that runs on off-the-shelf servers rather than the proprietary, dedicated hardware that mobile network providers have been running for decades. vRAN allows service providers to optimize their deployments. With software upgrades there will be a transition to quick, convenient, near-zero-touch operations. The virtualization of the network allows for extraordinary...

With the rapid push to 5G, operators are looking for fast, scalable ways to deploy while also having the flexibility and agility to manage services and optimize their networks. There are two ways that operators achieve this flexibility: using a virtual Radio Access Network (vRAN) and embracing O-RAN standards. vRAN gives MNOs greater network management and service agility and better deployment flexibility using pooled, centralized software-driven network functions operating on standardized...

The digital divide is a pervasive issue drawing a gap between those who have access to high-speed internet and those who don’t. This lack of connectivity is extremely prevalent in rural areas which often lag far behind urban and suburban areas when it comes to having internet access. While the digital divide has always been an issue, it’s been greatly underscored by the COVID 19 pandemic, which has driven many jobs, schools, and even medical practices to operate online. Without this...

To innovate next-gen networks, it’s important to have partnerships that combine best-in-class solutions to simplify and accelerate the transition to 5G. A good example of this is the recent partnership between Samsung and Ciena. Ciena provides powerful xHaul designed to support new service offerings being brought to market in 5G. Samsung and Ciena are working together to offer hardware and software solutions to telecom operators by coupling Samsung’s 5G solutions with Ciena’s xHaul...

Private 5G networks are quickly growing as an option for enterprise customers, a claim validated by the thousands of 5G private wireless trials happening globally. 5G private networks support faster and more reliable connections; and while Wi-Fi alone is a great choice for many there are several environments and compelling use cases for private 5G networks. Private networks can enable both indoor and outdoor wireless infrastructure with connections that are creating new business...

The digital divide is an ongoing, dire issue and the challenge to deliver high-speed broadband nationwide to underserved markets continues to go unsolved. Fixed Wireless Access or “FWA” is being deployed in large part to help close the digital divide and give both individuals and businesses affordable access to broadband. FWA lowers costs and expands deployment by using a local transmitter to send data to many receivers that exist in different homes or businesses. With FWA, the subscriber...

5G utilizes variety of frequency bands one of which is millimeter-wave or “mmWave.” mmWave generally refers to 24-100 GHz; a frequency range that can carry an incredible amount of data and, when coupled with advancements in coding techniques, can carry thousands of times more data than a low band signal. That is one of the reasons mmWave is seen as a key technology and vital component to 5G network performance. Because of its ability to handle large swaths of data, mobile network operators...

As 5G networks arrive in more and more markets, new advancements arise across industries enabling things like enhanced remote healthcare, immersive gaming, automated cars, and more. 5G also brings to life the Internet of Things, allowing for millions of non-computing devices to be online so businesses can be more productive and agile. Behind the scenes, the various components that make up a 5G network are working hard to enable these new use cases; things like CORE and radio access networks,...

In the case of an emergency, quick response of a well-trained and experienced first responder is important, but equally as important is that those first responders have real-time access to the critical information they need. Interruptions in communication between first responders can create life or death situations, result in property damage or cause injuries. This is where Mission Critical communications, or MCX, comes in. In the world of MCX, Mission Critical Push to Anything (MCPTX)...

5G has three main goals: speed, ultra-reliable low-latency and internet of things (IoT) enablement. While the benefits and widely known use cases of 5G technology may feel new from a services perspective, 5G has been under development for over 10 years. Many technology advancements have already been made including the development of beamforming and massive MIMO, more advanced radio technology, carrier aggregation and perhaps most importantly: the use of new spectrum bands. As 5G technology...

The Internet has long been used for entertainment and shopping, but the pandemic has heightened its importance in our lives making broadband internet access an essential utility like water, gas, and electricity. While the world has made a massive shift toward virtual moving work, school and even grocery shopping home there are still many people who can’t easily get online regularly. This is commonly referred to this as the “digital divide.” Even as fiber continues to be installed and speeds...

Next-generation wireless technologies are setting up a promising future that are enabling operators to deliver advanced 5G consumer experiences. The wireless industry is working hard to build technology solutions that help providers deploy 5G powered networks and experiences, but there is one critical component that no vendor or operator can make more of: spectrum. On this episode of Samsung Recalibrate, Kat Robinson, Networks Strategy Manager at Samsung, discusses the value of spectrum to 5G...

We all know 5G is arguably the hottest topic in wireless connectivity, and today we’re going to zoom in a bit and tackle the importance of bringing this powerful technology indoors. On this episode of Samsung Recalibrate, Colin Bowdery, Director of Small Cells and New Business for the Networks division at Samsung, discusses why bringing 5G indoors is such a big deal for this generation of wireless innovation. Moving 5G’s reach indoors will help better meet consumer expectations for...

Virtualized RAN, or vRAN, is a highly complex topic, and there’s a lot of confusion about what it means in the context of 5G. On this episode of Recalibrate, we break it all down, highlighting vRAN’s use cases, benefits, and role in our collective 5G future. vRAN is a virtualized radio access network and is seen as the next step in the evolution of cellular networks and specifically advancing 5G. Essentially, it’s taking previously hardware-driven functions and making them virtualized or...

Rather than a CB radio service or some sort of community service broadcasting weather forecasts, CBRS is a shared spectrum approach allowing Mobile Network Operators to reach areas where it’s not possible to utilize fiber or other forms of connectivity. It also solves limitations like limited 4G LTE in remote areas and a lack of predictable latency, an inability to prioritize traffic and security limitations with Wi-Fi. Ashish Bhatia, Senior Technical Sales Engineer at Samsung Electronics...

The rollout of 5G is progressing at a deliberate pace, and while gamers and streaming video consumers are no doubt excited for the incredible speeds and low-latency connections that 5G provides, farmers are already using the technology to improve their operations. On this episode of Samsung's Recalibrate podcast, Ashish Jain, CEO and co-founder at KAIROS, and Kat Robinson of Samsung Networks shared their thoughts on the impact of 5G on smart agriculture. Robinson kicked off discussion with a...

Online gaming is a force to be reckoned with. In 2018, the gaming industry alone brought in $139 billion in revenue—more than the film industry, music streaming services, NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL...combined. Major sports leagues have reason to shake in their boots, but there’s one sport that is joining forces with the gaming world to great result—racing. On this episode of Recalibrate, a Samsung podcast, we dove into the world of E-sports and online simulated racing with Sean Ambrose—...

In just a few short decades, computers have developed from clunky, 30-pound hunks of table-top electronics into a sleek, high-functioning pocket device. This transformation is no better epitomized than with Samsung’s latest Galaxy cell phones, tiny but powerful pocket computers with up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. So how can we best utilize these powerful palm computers? On this episode of Recalibrate, we discussed how Samsung’s DeX integration capitalizes on the power of these pocket...

By raven, by horseback, by iPhone...what do radio bandwidth and Game of Thrones have in common? We make the connection on this episode of Recalibrate by Samsung Networks. Tackling global communications and the impact of volumetric imagery are thought leaders and experts Reid Estreicher of Samsung B2B Marketing, Dr. Simon Lok, CTO of RGNets, and Ray Couey of Samsung Networks. What is the future of radio and bandwidth? Where are global communications headed? One thing is for sure, said Dr....