SEOUL, Korea - December 6, 2010 - Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading provider of advanced mobile technology, announced today that it has been chosen by Sprint (NYSE: S) as a key equipment and services supplier for Network Vision, the next evolution of the Sprint network. The Network Vision agreement includes plans for Samsung to deploy multi-mode base stations for Sprint spanning from the Pacific Coast to the Great Lakes including key markets such as San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Chicago and Pittsburgh.
"The award of Sprint's Network Vision Program to Samsung is the latest proof point of our companies' joint commitment and leadership in the continued development of 3G and 4G technologies," said Mr. Woonsub Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of the Telecommunication Systems Business of Samsung Electronics. "The multi-mode base stations will provide world-class quality, speed and end-user experiences to Sprint customers across the country."
"Sprint is thrilled to have Samsung's experience and expertise in helping build this powerful next-generation network for our customers," said Steve Elfman, president, network operations and wholesale for Sprint. "We have a great relationship with Samsung particularly in the launch of one of the industry's first 3G/4G phones, the Samsung Epic 4GTM, and expect that innovation to continue in developing the 3G and 4G infrastructure in bringing Network Vision to life."
The next-generation multi-mode base stations will be deployed to enhance Sprint's usage of its 800 MHz and 1900 MHz spectrum bands and support Clearwire's nationwide build-out of Mobile WiMAX. Samsung is one of three vendors that signed five-year agreements to deploy the equipment and services. Sprint reports that the total estimated incremental cost of the Network Vision program over the deployment period is between $4 billion and $5 billion. In addition to the new base stations, the agreement also includes All-IP CDMA core network elements, Microwave Backhaul and an extensive suite of services such as network design, deployment, optimization and support.
Samsung has been working closely with Sprint for the last three years to build-out 4G service compliant with the Mobile WiMAX standard. Since first finalizing a supply agreement in 2007, the two companies have steadily made progress on the extensive project with key milestones including the successful commercial launch of 4G service in 2008 and the launch earlier this summer of the Epic 4GTM, an award-winning member of the Samsung Galaxy STM smartphone portfolio. Sprint's 4G network assets were combined with Clearwire in a 2008 merger and Samsung is now one of the lead vendors that has helped Clearwire make Mobile WiMAX available to more than 100 million people in the United States this year.
Samsung is the global leader in delivering 3G and 4G mobile technologies and offers an end-to-end solution including chipsets, infrastructure and mobile devices. Samsung is also leveraging a market leading consumer electronics portfolio that is becoming increasingly more mobility- enabled, including access to CDMA and Mobile WiMAX networks.
