South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co. scored a contract to supply 5G network equipment to Japanese mobile operator NTT Docomo Inc., according to Reuters.
- The equipment will include support for open interfaces dubbed as Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN). This seeks to diversify suppliers by making every part of a telecom network interoperable.
- Analysts say the announcement cements Samsung as a major 5G Ran supplier.
- Samsung already secured a $6.6 billion 5G contract from Verizon in the United States to replace Nokia; and Canada’s SaskTel earlier this month. It is also in talks with European telecom operators.
- The tech giant is competing with 5G mobile network incumbents — China’s Huawei, Sweden’s Ericsson, and Finland’s Nokia.
- Geopolitical pressures have hampered Huawei’s growth outside China, driving growth in the market share of European firms.