Samsung on 5G Spectrum and Policy

5G has three main goals: speed, ultra-reliable low-latency and internet of things (IoT) enablement. While the benefits and widely known use cases of 5G technology may feel new from a services perspective, 5G has been under development for over 10 years. Many technology advancements have already been made including the development of beamforming and massive MIMO, more advanced radio technology, carrier aggregation and perhaps most importantly: the use of new spectrum bands. As 5G technology becomes more advanced, the allocation of greater amounts of spectrum bands and effective government policies will be necessary to drive further 5G adoption and advancement.

To break it down, lower spectrum bands carry less data but carry signals farther. High spectrum bands carry huge swaths of data, but the signal doesn’t go as far. Mid-band, on the other hand, is in the sweet spot carrying a fair amount of data a reasonable distance. Service providers use a mix of low, mid, and high spectrum bands and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is working on bringing more of each spectrum bands to the marketplace.

Besides the allocation of new spectrum bands, there are several other steps that can be taken to increase the adoption of 5G. The time the FCC takes to clear the frequencies of C-Band has delayed 5G service implementations, along with the time it takes to gain permission to put up a new cell site. Reducing these would be helpful, along with lowering the cost of broadband deployment and the cost of service. The United States struggles with high broadband deployment costs, but programs like the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, Rural Digital Opportunity and 5G Funds are working to close this gap.

Companies like Samsung are also uniquely positioned to bring 5G to everyone. For example, Samsung is focused on pushing end-to-end technology deploying all the parts integral to 5G: chips, network equipment, and devices, including smartphones, smart TVs, appliances, and automotive solutions–all with industry-leading security standards.

Moreover, Samsung is leveraging experience in the implementation of 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies to take the lead in 5G as well. And all of this can't be done alone, that's why Samsung works with strategic partners across the industry to offer products and solutions that bring 5G networks online – a piece of the greater machine that will bring 5G to life hand-in-hand with the government and other companies and organizations.

Widespread adoption of 5G is no small feat, but the payoffs are well worth it. According to a recent report from PWC, 5G is estimated to have a global economic impact of $13.2 trillion and create over 22 million jobs by 2035. Listen now to hear what steps the industry and government are taking to make it happen.

Networks TechTalk podcast was previously named Recalibrate with Samsung Networks.