| Samsung Electronics' 5G network equipment / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics |
By Jun Ji-hye
Samsung Electronics has been outpacing rival Huawei in the fifth-generation (5G) network equipment race, according to a report, Thursday.
As Huawei has been facing a boycott from global companies amid the intensifying trade war between the United States and China, Samsung is expected to be able to increase its market share further in the global 5G network equipment market.
The study of the mobile RAN market, published by Dell'Oro Group, stated that the Korean tech giant recorded a 5G RAN revenue market share of 37 percent for the fourth quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2019.
This places Samsung in the lead for the market by revenue share for the two combined quarters.
During the same period, Huawei took a 28 percent share.
The Chinese tech powerhouse took the top position in the global network equipment market in 2018 with a 31 percent market share. At the time, Samsung took only a 6.6 percent share.
Samsung gained the largest quarter-on-quarter growth increase in its RAN revenue share amongst top vendors within the overall RAN market. Samsung's RAN revenue increased 13.5 percent from the fourth quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of this year.
Samsung has deployed its 5G radio base stations in the Korean 5G market using the 3.5-gigahertz spectrum as Korea commercialized the world's first 5G network services in April.
Samsung has also established a strong presence in the U.S. 5G network equipment market by clinching a series of supply deals with AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.
The firm is also moving to sell its 5G equipment to Japanese mobile carriers.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong met with key executives of NTT Docomo and KDDI, May 16, to discuss possible collaboration on 5G-related business as Japan is aiming to commercialize the next-generation networks before the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
The Korean firm is supporting the Tokyo Games as a worldwide partner of the International Olympic Committee.
As the Olympic Games attracts attention worldwide, it serves as a great venue for companies to strengthen their presence in the global market.