Samsung, TPG Telecom trial 5G vRAN with integrated 26GHz mmWave service

5G vRAN

Samsung Electronics has announced it will roll out a 5G virtualized RAN (vRAN) trial on the 26GHz band, using an integrated mmWave service, for mobile and fixed wireless services with the leading mobile network operator in Australia TPG Telecom.

In the trial which is the first of its kind in the country, Samsung will deploy its vRAN service in TPG Telecom’s new Innovation Lab in Glebe. Additionally, Samsung’s latest 5G mmWave product, dubbed ‘Compact Macro’, will be deployed in the wider Glebe area.

“We are very pleased to partner with Samsung as part of our new Innovation Lab to drive product and technology innovation by trialing virtualization,” said Iñaki Berroeta, CEO at TPG Telecom.

“Deploying mmWave spectrum on our 5G network together with vRAN architecture will allow us to develop exciting 5G use cases for industry verticals and enable the delivery of even faster speeds and greater capacity for our customers,” he added.

TPG Telecom announced its investment of $81.16 million to acquire spectrum in all available license areas in the 26GHz band – tripling its total spectrum holdings.

With abundant mmWave spectrum, TPG Telecom will be able to offer high speed data services and immersive use cases for its mobile and home users. Its extensive fiber assets combined with a network of small cells will enable the deployment of vRAN architecture.

Samsung has pioneered the successful delivery of 5G end-to-end solutions including chipsets, radios, and contexts. With ongoing research and development, the telco is leading the industry to develop 5G networks with its market-leading product from virtualized RAN and Core fully integrated into independent network solutions and AI-powered automation tools.

Also, the company currently provides network solutions to mobile phone owners who bring connections to hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

“Samsung is excited to begin this trial with TPG Telecom powered by our innovative 5G vRAN solution and latest integrated 26GHz mmWave product, which will be the first in Australia,” said Woojune Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Sales & Marketing, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics.

“Through a combination of our powerful 5G solutions and ongoing efforts in 5G development, Samsung looks forward to helping TPG Telecom gain the full benefits of 5G to reshape the value of mobile experiences for users and enterprises,” Kim added.

The announcement follows the launch of Samsung’s Networks Business in Australia in April 2021, and since then, the company has been exploring the delivery of Samsung’s leading 5G mmWave technologies to the nation.