By Celeste Choi, Head of Global Marketing, Networks Business, Samsung Electronics
At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, you know that you couldn’t walk on the show floor without hearing or seeing the terms Open RAN and AI. This year, Samsung demonstrated how we are giving operators the confidence to transform their networks by embracing an open and virtual approach.
Over the past decade, Samsung has evolved from a pioneer in hardware infrastructure for mobile networks to a trailblazer driving the industry's transition toward more agile, flexible and sustainable open and software-based architectures. This year's MWC allowed Samsung to double down on this open and software-centric network approach and demonstrate how it comes to life through concrete solutions already commercialized in major operators’ network worldwide.
We believe that optionality is the biggest benefit when it comes to Open RAN and at the show, Samsung demonstrated how we are expanding our ecosystem at every layer of the stack. More specifically, we made new announcements with CPU vendors to provide more options for our customers.
And on the software side, progress on vRAN is full speed ahead. Unveiled in Barcelona was Samsung’s vRAN 3.0 combined with the AI-powered Samsung CognitiV Network Operations Suite. The Samsung CognitiV Network Operations Suite is an O-RAN compliant platform enabling multi-party end-to-end network automation. This comprehensive approach encompasses every stage of the network journey, from initial deployment to continuous optimization. With this suite, operators can expect significant benefits, including reduced deployment time, enhanced efficiency and cost savings, optimized network performance, and true intelligent end-to-end automation utilizing AI technology.
As the only major vendor with real-world, commercial experience, Samsung’s O-RAN compliant vRAN solution is deployed in Tier 1 operators' commercial network across North America, Europe and Asia. Just a few weeks before the show, Samsung announced the successful deployment of over 38,000 O-RAN complaint vRAN sites – carrying commercial traffic globally.
Samsung's presence at MWC 2024 solidified our position as a frontrunner in open and software-driven network transformation. We showcased our commitment to this vision through advancements in Open RAN, vRAN and AI-powered automation. By offering transformative solutions that are O-RAN compliant like vRAN 3.0 and the Samsung CognitiV Network Operations Suite, Samsung empowers mobile network operators to embrace greater flexibility, agility and efficiency, leading to a more sustainable and intelligent future for mobile networks.