In this vignette from the full episode of The 5G Factor, our webcast that focuses on all things related to 5G, the IoT, and the ecosystem as a whole, we covered the rumor on the street that T-Mobile is potentially exploring a partnership with Samsung for 5G network equipment.
While this might not be welcome news for Nokia and Ericsson, both of whom have close relationships with T-Mobile and who today pretty much split T-Mobile’s 5G network deployment 50/50, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. Prior to T-Mobile’s acquisition of Sprint, Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung all played roles in building out Sprint’s network across the U.S. That network has since been dismantled.
Samsung has been making some inroads in the network buildout space, recently providing Dish with 20K plus 5G radios that Samsung is installing, and the company has also been working with Comcast for its 3.5 Ghz CBRS and 600MHz network buildout. Samsung is also selling Open RAN tech to Dish Network and as we are seeing T-Mobile’s O-RAN team maturing, this might well be of interest to T-Mobile.
Why is change afoot? T-Mobile’s leadership team is changing with networking lead Neville Ray leaving and with other key executives joining the team, including network equipment exec Mike Simpson, who has spent time at both Nokia and Clearwire before its merger with Sprint back in 2013.
I think there’s room in this space for Samsung, and it will be interesting to watch this play out and see whether Samsung gets a piece of T-Mobile’s 5G network buildout pie.
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Author Information
Shelly Kramer is a serial entrepreneur with a technology-centric focus. She has worked alongside some of the world’s largest brands to embrace disruption and spur innovation, understand and address the realities of the connected customer, and help navigate the process of digital transformation.
