Samsung Elec expands 5G network solution supply to NTT Docomo

Samsung Electronics Co. is expanding its presence in Japan’s telecommunications market with a supply of 5G network equipment to NTT Docomo Inc., Japan’s top mobile carrier which has around 84 million users as of March.

The Korean electronics behemoth said Wednesday it will provide NTT Docomo with ultra-light 5G radio base stations, which support the 28 gigahertz (GHz) ultra-high frequency band.

Each piece of equipment with a station weighs 4.5 kilograms, easy to install in downtown city areas as well as in other highly populated areas, supporting increasing data traffic, Samsung said.

It is an additional deal of the 5G network equipment between the two firms. Samsung closed a partnership with NTT Docomo to provide the equipment in March 2021 for the first time. 

The Japanese mobile carrier has collaborated with Samsung Electronics since the early stage of 5G networks, said Masafumi Masuda, head of radio access network development at NTT Docomo.

He also said the two firms share some 5G-related business goals such as open radio access network (open RAN), a standardization of radio access network elements from different vendors for unified interconnection.

Additionally, Samsung has supplied 5G network equipment to another Japanese leading mobile carrier KDDI Corp. since 2019. In February, Samsung, KDDI and Japanese tech giant Fujitsu Ltd. turned on the world's first commercial 5G standalone open radio access network site in Japan in a bid to enhance mobile services all across the country, including in rural areas.

Samsung is also increasing its 5G network equipment sales in the US. The electronics giant said in September it will install facilities including mid- and low-band base stations with equipment to US media giant Comcast Corp.

In May, the Korean electronics giant announced it will supply 5G network equipment to US wireless carrier Dish Network Corp. Although the deal value was not disclosed, it exceeded 1 trillion won ($758.7 million), sources said at the time.

Write to Ji-Eun Jeong at jeong@hankyung.com
Jihyun Kim edited this article.