Building Success in the 5G Ecosystem

The development of a thriving 5G ecosystem capable of supporting the needs of businesses and consumers depends on successful collaboration among innovators and industry leaders. To that end, Samsung has taken a leading role by accelerating its deployment of 5G and doing its part to bridge the current gap between initiating advanced 5G concepts off the ground and the time to deliver them to market. Samsung is at the forefront of driving 5G collaboration to enable the vision of the 5G ecosystem.

Samsung's leadership in 5G extends to creating partnerships with other providers and industry innovators to create the layers in the 5G ecosystem that make it viable. Here are a few of the alliances Samsung has forged with partners that enable the successful deployment of 5G in today's markets. These partnerships and the resulting outputs from the product and strategy collaboration are fundamental to the success of 5G going forward.

When it comes to developing components, partnerships allow for the creation of products from organizations with expertise in those domains, thus resulting in faster time to market for high-tech solutions. Samsung's approach to mobile technology development is to work with functional experts to incorporate best-in-class products to offer a best-in-class solution.

In 5G, one of the critical new technologies enabling efficient use of spectrum is Massive MIMO, which is a new advanced antenna technology. With the need to process radio waves faster, Samsung is collaborating with Xilinx to increase the processor density of chips to deliver faster components that are used in next-generation 5G Massive MIMO systems to increase spectral efficiency and improve performance. ¹ This solution is now supporting deployments in the U.S. using antennas with up to 64 transmitters and 64 receivers, giving network operators the ability to more efficiently use their spectrum while delivering higher capacity to more users in a cell without the higher costs and maintenance of deploying additional small cells to meet the coverage and capacity demand.

Samsung's work in developing technology such as next-generation RF chipsets has helped to reduce the size, weight, and power consumption of its 5G base station by approximately 25 percent. This critical advancement simplifies the permitting and installation processes for operators and will enable accelerated deployment of 5G deployment.

With the need to support both 4G LTE and 5G networks for the foreseeable future, the industry needs processors tailored to the abilities of both technologies.

Samsung and Marvell are collaborating on the development and launch of multiple generations of radio and control plane processors that operate on both 4G LTE and 5G NR solutions. ² These processors enable carriers to deploy multi-radio access technologies to meet the ever-increasing data usage of users and emerging applications.

The collaborative work is essential. Next-generation networks will need a comprehensive and integrated approach that adapts to the requirements for 5G: near-zero latency, high data rates, and increased density, yet they will need to continue support for legacy LTE and LTE Advanced capabilities. This co-resident operation of LTE/LTE+, alongside 5G NR, is a crucial deployment requirement for ensuring cost-efficient deployment that maintains service between 4G and 5G services.

The 5G core network is evolving to support and accelerate 5G service delivery using the agility enabled by cloud networks. Samsung and Amdocs are collaborating to integrate and onboard virtual network functions (VNFs) so that network operators can take advantage of Samsung's 5G network solutions built on the Open Networking Automation Platform (ONAP.) ⁵

Amdocs's expertise in ONAP, software-defined networks (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV), make for a natural partnership with Samsung to help advance the virtualization of Samsung's 5G network solutions. Starting with Samsung's Virtualized Central Unit (vCU), the collaborative projects will expand to include components in the 5G core, resulting in solutions that will enable CSPs to realize an agile end-to-end cloud-based network. The teams will also explore delivering solutions that enable vRAN rollout and integration.

The collaborative efforts of these solutions and those will enable communications service providers (CSPs) to deploy innovative services across an open and agile ecosystem.

The 5G network needs a reliable and efficient solution for managing real-time user policy, including policy enforcement. To that end, Samsung and Openet are working together to provide 5G network functions (NFs) in their packet core software solutions. ⁶ The joint solution consists of Openet's cloud-native 5G software platform for real-time policy, as well as charging mechanisms that will interface with Samsung's packet core software products to provide appropriate controls that maximize users' experiences. Openet's experience providing digital Business Support Systems (BSS) makes it uniquely suited to provide this vital component in the 5G network.

Recognizing the high value of an AI-based customer analytics platform, in late 2018, Samsung acquired Zhilabs, the creator of a real-time analytics platform that provides service providers the ability to fine-tune the customer experiences in 5G. ⁷ As an AI-based network tool, it analyzes the usage patterns of customers and monitors the quality of their service experience. With the exponential data traffic of 5G, automated and intelligent network analytics tools are vital.

Samsung is a firm believer in the development of an open ecosystem. Samsung aligned with Verizon in 2018 to join their efforts in increasing network efficiency, advancing inter-carrier interoperability, and preparing a path forward for virtualized RAN and 5G commercialization. Samsung is an active participant in several Open RAN initiatives and is a crucial driver in creating open interfaces between the remote radio unit/head (RRU/RRH) and the baseband unit (BBU) to simplify interoperability between suppliers. The Open RAN approach allows carriers to break incumbent vendor lock-in and create best-of-breed multi-vendor RAN networks in a variety of flexible configurations with equipment from any compliant ecosystem provider.

Samsung was instrumental in the creation of the xRAN Fronthaul Specification and formally joined the O-RAN Alliance in early 2019. ^{8, 9} The objective of the O-RAN Alliance is to bring higher intelligence, cloud-scale economies, and agility to the RANs of the next-generation wireless system. This open approach enables use of artificial intelligence (AI) to manage 5G networks more efficiently using automation. In addition, using best-in-class technologies on open networks can enhance feature performance by intelligently allocating bandwidth to the applications that need it most at a given moment.

AT&T's recent announcement touting the industry's first successful call using eCPRI is one example of Samsung's active participation in Open RAN initiatives. ¹⁰ The success demonstrates that Samsung's contributions to the Open RAN projects will improve network to base station connectivity, allowing fiber resources to provide higher network capacity, making for more efficient mmWave deployments. Samsung continues to work with the partners in Open RAN ecosystem to develop solutions that can lead to more efficient network deployments.

A critical aspect of the success of the open architecture that will empower rapid creation of a robust RAN ecosystem is the verification and confirmation of interoperability of the network components. The Open Test and Integration Center (OTIC) is a network operator-led initiative that includes vendors and integrators formed to ensure a collaborative effort on activities that will prove the compliance of multi-vendor Open RAN interoperability. ¹¹ Samsung joined OTIC to help lead the assurance of interoperability that will drive Open RAN success.

In October of 2018, Verizon became the first US operator to launch commercial 5G services, with its 5G Home service powered by end-to-end Samsung equipment in Sacramento, CA, and Houston, TX. In 2019 the four largest operators have launched mobile 5G service in parts of major cities around the country. Samsung Networks has partnered with operators like Verizon in its 5G Ultra Wideband rollout and Sprint in its True Mobile 5G launch in Chicago. Samsung and AT&T are collaborating to enable 5G mobile services using millimeter wave spectrum and 5G-ready fixed wireless services in the newly opened CBRS band. ¹²

Samsung's latest edition of its flagship Galaxy S product line is notable not just for major enhancements in the camera, display, and other features, but also for being the first smartphone to support 5G NR in early 2019. Later in the year, Samsung added the Galaxy Note 10 5G and A90 smartphones to broaden the 5G portfolio. Making 5G a reality for the popular device required collaborating with major mobile network operators in South Korea, the US and around the world.

It signals a new era in service providers working together to build and support the 5G architecture that is so critical to ensuring the success of the technology. Providers can also help ensure that customers all over the world have access to advanced speeds and better service from any carrier.

At MWC Barcelona and now MWC LA 2019, Samsung is exhibiting 5G solutions that are already deployed commercially in the U.S. and Korea, marking a significant journey from demonstrations to trials to live networks. In collaboration with operators and enterprises, the real-world use cases showcase how 5G can and will transform experiences for consumers and businesses in so many ways.

As the only technology provider supporting all three Korean operators with end-to-end 5G solutions, Samsung is doing more than just showcasing ideas and concepts. This collaborative approach with a range of partners is actively demonstrating how the industry can move forward in ensuring a stable and thriving 5G future. Enabling connected smart homes, building smart factories, developing autonomous vehicles, enabling safer aviation, delivering remote health care, improving sports venue experience, and enhancing public safety are just some of the endless possibilities for 5G that Samsung plans to make a reality.

The willingness of so many carriers to work together in enabling a healthy 5G ecosystem signals a shift in the way the wireless industry functions. Instead of hoarding advancements for fear of giving other competitors an edge, participants are sharing information and ideas for the benefit of consumers and businesses.

Collaboration appears to be the new normal, thus signaling good things for the future of the 5G ecosystem.