Samsung is adding two modems to enable a wider 5G implementation

Verizon will be the first customer to purchase a tool that supports 5G networks that are easier to turn on, smaller in size, and more efficient in using power.

MWC19 Los Angeles: Samsung’s presence in the 5G revolution
Samsung’s 5G radio units are just one of the initiatives on the road to 5G.

Samsung unveiled two new modems on Thursday that are said to help stimulate the rollout of 5G by reducing the size, weight and energy consumption of Samsung base stations by around 25%.

The movement comes as the 5G expansion continues in the United States after being introduced to the market earlier this year.

Derek Johnston, marketing director of the Networks Division at Samsung America, wrote a blog post in which he explained that one of the key elements of the first official 5G network deployment were field-programmable gate array chipsets, popular for their design flexibility and programmability.

But one of the disadvantages is that you need to install more than one to have sufficient processing power to support the 5G network. With more chipsets come higher costs associated with higher power consumption and more physical space required for warehouse equipment.

SEE: Mini glossary: ​​5G terms you need to know (free PDF) (TechRepublic Premium)

“Samsung has tapped into its leadership in semiconductor and network technology – and combined with its expertise in 5G research and development – to introduce one of the first SoC 5G new radio modems in the industry: the S8600 and S9100,” Johnston wrote.

System-on-a-Chip (SoC) product designs based on ASICs have become popular because they are more energy efficient and have increased operational frequency capacities, which meet the mass production requirements that the industry now imposes.

“These new modems support two architectural options for operators. The S8600 powers the Samsung digital unit in separate radio-digital configurations for both 4G and 5G, while the S9100 powers the integrated Samsung 5G access unit,” he added in his blog post the new modems.

Johnston added that most companies opt for more energy-conscious circuits that are permanent and application-specific, as opposed to circuits that need to be programmed or reconfigured. The new Samsung tools help support 5G networks that are easier to turn on, smaller in size, and more efficient in using power, he said.

At the end of October, Samsung showed the S9100 chipset at the Mobile World Congress LA 2019, giving analysts a first glance. The radio access units are small enough to make their installation relatively easy, analysts say.

Ovum Research Practice leader Daryl Schoolar explained the tools in more detail after he had seen them closely at the Mobile World Congress. In a blog post, Schoolar said the new base station “integrates the radio unit and the distributed unit into a single form factor, making it the first integrated mmWave spectrum radio that meets the 3GPP NR standard.”

“This saves money in advance and allows for a simpler installation compared to the previous two-box offering. Samsung Networks used its new 5G system on a chip (SoC) modem. This helps to give the base station a reduction of around 25%, weight and energy consumption versus those without an embedded 5G chipset, “he said.

Samsung is not yet ready to add its portfolio of 5G tools. At Mobile World Congress LA, the company said support for spectrum bands was available for 2.5 GHz, 3.5 – 4.1 GHz, 26 – 28 GHz and 39 GHz. Officials also have plans for a variety of network architectures that offer a multitude of options for 5G network operators.

Schoolar added that each operator had different configurations for each network and that Samsung tried to expand its market share by creating more flexible tools that were designed for different situations.

“Operators want vendor partners who not only implement 5G, but also stay with them throughout the entire 5G life cycle. The 28 GHz radio enhancements support this,” Schoolar wrote.

“This does not mean that Samsung Networks has maximized its chances with those operators, nor are they the only mobile operators in the US. Expanding its presence in the US naturally means expanding its portfolio.”

According to Johnston, the units can be placed on street lamps, posts and building walls, making it easier for network operators to distribute the 5G rollout.

Verizon will be the first company to purchase the 5G NR Access Unit, which is also supplied with data throughput up to 10 Gbps in a 4 transmit and 4 receive (4T4R) antenna configuration.

Schoolar added that Samsung also collaborated with many of the other major 5G operators.

“Samsung Networks has made it no secret that it regards the US as one of its major infrastructure markets. It already has commercial contracts with AT&T, Sprint and Verizon and offers LTE and 5G solutions to all three operators,” he wrote. “This does not mean that Samsung Networks has maximized its chances with those operators, nor are they the only mobile operators in the US. Expanding its presence in the US naturally means expanding its portfolio.”

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