Japan’s NTT Docomo taps S. Korea's Samsung as 5G supply provider

Japan’s No.1 mobile operator NTT Docomo has chosen Samsung Electronics as its 5G network solution provider.

Among Samsung's 5G technology to be provided Docomo includes its O-RAN-compliant solutions, which brings enriched 5G services to NTT Docomo's customers and enables digital transformation for businesses. Docomo, which has nearly 82 million users across Japan, launched 5G services in March last year.

This is the first time that Samsung would supply 5G network equipment to Docomo. Samsung had previously signed a deal with Japan's second-biggest carrier, KDDI.

Sadayuki Abeta, general manager of the radio access network development at NTT Docomo, said the collaboration with Samsung would be for the next phase of the 5G Open RAN and to accelerate the expansion of its ‘Lightning Speed 5G’ coverage.

Samsung is looking for partnerships with mobile carriers globally to increase its presence in the telecom equipment market since the launching of 5G. It recently landed deals with Canada‘s SaskTel and New Zealand’s Spark.