Samsung Electronics announced it started this summer testing wireless network technology with Charter Communications and the tests will continue until year-end. The US cable operator is testing Samsung's pre-commercial 5G system and devices for the 28 GHz (mmWave) band, as well as equipment using CBRS spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band for 4G services.
Charter is not active in the mobile market yet, but does have a MVNO agreement with Verizon and has signaled it plans to launch mobile services in 2018. Craig Cowden, Senior VP for Wireless Technology at Charter, said the company is looking at how its network could be used to power 5G services.
It's also testing 4G small cells with Samsung in preparation for the launch of mobile services next year, he said. Samsung’s LTE outdoor small cell provides a compact base station that is ideal to hang on Charter’s extensive cable strand asset, due to its small size and low power consumption, according to the company. The small cell provides both 4G and Wi-Fi service over multiple frequencies.
