Samsung, SK Telecom to collaborate on 5G virtual network

Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom will collaborate to standardize the virtualization process for 5G networks, the companies said.

Intel and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) will also take part in the alliance.

Standardizing the process will make it easier for telcos to apply virtual networks to their 5G networks, SK Telecom said.

The companies will focus on virtualization of the core network. They will use HPE servers that run on Intel’s Xeon processors and Samsung’s software.

The technology will be applied to SK Telecom’s standalone network.

Virtualization separates the hardware and software so that commercial off the shelf equipment can be swapped in easier.

In April, Samsung commercialized its virtualized central unit. The unit is being used by carriers in the US and Japan. In July, the South Korean tech giant launched virtualized distributed unit.

Combining the units realizes a virtualized RAN.

SK Telecom is expected to use Samsung’s hardware and software for its 5G standalone network.

Verizon last month succeeded in testing virtualization on its 5G network. It used Samsung’s 5G vRAN for the test. 

Virtualization is expected to play a key role in Samsung’s recent 7.9 trillion won equipment supply deal with Verizon. The more virtualized the network, the more US components and servers will be used.