Samsung joins Ericsson, Nokia as 5G vendors for U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular has awarded Samsung Electronics a commercial agreement to supply LTE and 5G network solutions.

According to Samsung, the new agreement establishes terms under which U.S. Cellular can purchase Samsung’s commercially proven network solutions, including 5G New Radio (NR) technology, to help U.S. Cellular deliver next-generation service.

“We are excited at the prospect of working with Samsung to extend groundbreaking 4G LTE and 5G technology to our customers, expanding what is possible in consumer experiences and business applications,” said Mike Irizarry, EVP and CTO at U.S. Cellular, in a press release.

Last year, U.S. Cellular, the fifth largest mobile carrier in the U.S., announced it would launch 5G service in Iowa and Wisconsin during the first part of 2020. It tapped equipment vendors Ericsson and Nokia for network upgrades and 5G deployment efforts, including 5G New Radio (NR) hardware and software.

Samsung has been establishing a name for itself in the U.S. infrastructure market, winning 5G network supply deals with the likes of Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. T-Mobile has tested some of its gear but hasn’t made any announcements about adding Samsung to its vendor supply list.

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“We look forward to this new collaboration with U.S. Cellular, a key provider of mobile services to millions of customers across the U.S.,” said Mark Louison, SVP and general manager, Networks Division, Samsung Electronics America. “As our latest network solutions become a larger part of the U.S. market, we are excited to advance Samsung’s 5G innovation and leadership, and continue our journey in delivering new communications technologies, including 4G LTE and 5G.”

Louison added that Samsung is focused on enhancing mobile networks around the world by providing global operators with best-in-class solutions, and applying experience gained from regional deployments in India, Japan, Korea, the U.S., and other markets.