Samsung and TPG Telecom will Test Australia’s First 5G vRAN with an Integrated 26GHz mmWave Solution

Today, Samsung Electronics said it would collaborate with TPG Telecom to undertake Australia's first 5G virtualized RAN (vRAN) trial on 26GHz, utilizing an integrated mmWave solution for mobile and fixed wireless services. Samsung will put its vRAN solution at TPG Telecom's brand new Innovation Lab in Glebe, NSW, for the trial, the first type in the country. Furthermore, Samsung's newest 5G mmWave product, Compact Macro, will be implemented in the Glebe region.

The announcement follows the April 2021 launch of Samsung's Networks Business in Australia. The firm has been exploring the delivery of Samsung's leading 5G mmWave technology to the country since then.

TPG Telecom, a major mobile network provider in Australia, owns and runs a number of well-known mobile and internet brands in the country, including Vodafone. TPG Telecom has announced a AU$108 million commitment to buy spectrum in all accessible license areas in the 26GHz band, doubling its overall spectrum holdings. TPG Telecom will provide high-speed data services and immersive use cases to its mobile and home customers because of an abundance of mmWave spectrum. In addition, TPG Telecom's extensive fiber assets, coupled with a small cell network, will allow for the deployment of vRAN architecture.

Samsung will offer its Compact Macro and vRAN solutions for the trial. Samsung's newest 5G Compact Macro combines a baseband, radio, and antenna in a compact package. This compact and lightweight technology is easily placed on the sides of buildings and utility poles, allowing for the quick response of 5G networks. Samsung's industry-leading commercial vRAN solution is based on the company's own stack and operates on commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) servers. As a vRAN leader, Samsung has commercially deployed its vRAN solution on a large scale for global Tier 1 operator networks in markets other than Australia and has recently expanded its capability to support the 3.5GHz Massive MIMO radio industry voices had predicted would be difficult to support with vRAN. Furthermore, Samsung's 5G vRAN on mmWave, which is currently commercially deployed in global markets such as Korea, Japan, and the United States, can handle multi-gigabit speeds, enabling IT technology savings and deployment benefits providing revolutionary 5G mobile experiences.

Samsung has paved the way for successfully delivering 5G end-to-end solutions, including chipsets, radios, and core. With its market-leading product portfolio spanning from completely virtualized RAN and Core to private network solutions and AI-powered automation tools, Samsung leads the industry's advancement of 5G networks through ongoing research and development. Currently, the company provides network solutions to mobile operators that connect hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

About TPG Telecom
TPG Telecom is an Australian telecommunications company that owns some of the country's most recognizable brands, including Vodafone, TPG, iiNet, AAPT, Internode, Lebara, and Felix.

TPG Telecom owns and operates national mobile and fixed networks that improve Australia's connectivity. These include Australia's second-largest fixed voice and data network, with over 27,000 kilometers of metropolitan and inter-capital fiber networks, and a leading mobile network with over 5,600 sites and a population of over 23 million Australians.

TPG Telecom, ASX's second-biggest telecoms business, has a strong challenger spirit and a dedication to providing the best services and solutions to our customers.