Barcelona, Spain – February 26, 2013 - Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, an advanced network solutions provider, has been selected to provide and deploy Telefonica’s LTE Radio Access Network (RAN) in Chile. The deployment marks Samsung’s first LTE project with a European global operator and further demonstrates global operators’ growing interest in Samsung’s LTE solutions.
As part of the agreement, Samsung will deploy LTE base stations with all associated systems and will provide network support services. Samsungs equipment will be deployed to cover over 95% of the country and 16 out of 20 of the most populated cities in Chile, including Gran La Concepción and Gran Le Serena.
The rollout will take place from 2013-2014 and will see Samsung deploy the latest mobile broadband technology in areas of the country which typically has a deficit of high-speed internet access. Activities to test the service have already started and the first LTE data call was successfully completed on 14th of February.
"The LTE network introduction will provide our customers with the best possible mobile broadband. Samsung, with more than 30 years experience in the network business, is the ideal partner to bring our LTE service to every corner of Chile." said Gustavo Marambio Network director at Movistar Chile.
“Our key focus is to deliver superior and differential connectivity experience to all of our customers and a key pillar on this is the rollout of best-in-class LTE networks all across our geographies. We are convinced that the partnership with Samsung that has seen a first implementation in our Chilean Operation is and will be fundamental on the objective of delivering superior quality to Telefónica customers” said Enrique Blanco Nadales, Global Chief Technology Officer of Telefónica.
“Samsung is delighted to bring its advanced LTE network technology to the market leading operator Telefonica Chile and to Latin America, which is showing the fastest evolution in mobile network utilization” said Youngky Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of the Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “We commit to provide our early experience in the leading LTE markets, the US, Japan and Korea, in order to deliver unprecedented LTE innovation to Telefonica Chile’s subscribers.”
Based on its wide range of field experience in LTE, Samsung has successfully partnered with many global mobile service providers - including Sprint and MetroPCS in the US, KDDI in Japan, SK Telecom, KT in South Korea, Mobily in Saudi Arabia and Three in the UK. Samsung provides a comprehensive end-to-end LTE portfolio spanning radio access networks, core networks, IMS, system integration and managed services.
As of December 2012, Samsung successfully deployed over 125,000 commercial LTE cells in some of the most data intensive markets in the world. Currently one in 5 LTE connections is brokered through Samsung LTE equipment.
Samsung’s innovative LTE solutions are backed by over 30 years of experience and leadership in developing and commercializing world first telecom technologies. Based on its wide range of field-experience in OFDMA technologies, Samsung has already successfully partnered with dozens of mobile service providers, helping them to implement the most advanced 4G solutions and differentiate their service offerings.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., itself is a giant company employing 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales exceeding KRW 201 trillion. Throughout 2012, with sustaining its leading position in global smartphone market, Samsung Mobile achieved the #1 position globally among mobile device manufacturers. Samsung is among the world’s top brands ranking #9 on Interbrand’s list of the world’s top 100 brands. Samsung also has the highest level of credit ratings among the whole IT industry by marking ‘A+’ in 2012 (Fitch Ratings).