Samsung (KRX:005930) to Run on 1Gbps Speeds, 5G Ready in 2020
According to an official announcement by Samsung, the company has successfully developed the world's first adaptive array transceiver technology operating in the millimeter-wave Ka bands for cellular communications.
Samsung believes that the millimeter-wave technology sits at the core of 5G mobile communications system and will provide data transmission up to several hundred times faster than the current 4G networks.
Chang Yeong Kim, Executive President of Samsung Electronics and Head of Digital Media and Communications, said in an statement that "The millimeter-wave band is the most effective solution to recent surges in wireless internet usage. Samsung's recent success in developing the adaptive array transceiver technology has brought us one step closer to the commercialization of 5G mobile communications in the millimeter-wave band."
Samsung envisions that once the 5G mobile communications were made available to the market, the people will be able to use ultra-high-speed data transmission up to several hundred times faster than even the 4G LTE-Advanced technology due for launch later this year.
With this technology, Samsung promises that users will be able to transmit massive data files including high quality digital movies practically without limitation - 3D movies and games, real-time streaming of ultra high-definition content and remote medical services.
While Samsung is in high hopes looking in the potential of 5g mobile communications in the future, analysts expresses their hesitations.
TechHive was able to interview Ken Rehbehn, mobile analyst for infrastructure for the Yankee Group.
Ken Rehbehn says that Samsung goal is not easy. "Making more efficient use of spectrum is hard to do because LTE really takes us to the edge already. That's why companies are looking to higher frequency bands for 5G. There are big challenges moving to these bands for personal communication. These personal devices that people carry in their hands are difficult environments for antenna technology. When you look at these higher frequencies for a 5G type service down the road, the challenges are enormous."
Rehbehn further explains that the "very high frequencies have been used successfully in the past with microwave dishes, focused beams and large antennas. With a handset, you don't' have that. Samsung's technology might work well at a base station (but) there's still work to be done on what that means for a handset..."
Rehbehn said that Samsung might be too much ahead of itself with its announcement. "All vendors are looking to the future. There is no official 5G so many suppliers are trying to stake out some territory. Companies are taking advantage of that vacuum to start painting a picture of their readiness for the next wave."
In an interview with IDG News Service with Jens Zander, professor and dean at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, said that he isn't convince that Samsung can overcome the poor signal propagation characteristics.
"At these frequencies the wavelengths are so short that all obstacles become massive. Even your own body casts a large shadow. That has been shown by a number of studies. The key to building faster networks, especially indoors, lies in coming up with better ways of putting a large number of smaller base stations closer to users."the KTH professor explained.