Google brings Samsung 5G modem technology to the US market with new Pixel phone sources

August 25 (Reuters) – Google will tap Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) to supply the 5G modem for its upcoming Pixel smartphone, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, signaling the first victory for the Korean firm in the United States. market dominated by Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM.O).

Earlier this month, Google revealed that it has designed its own processor chip to power its new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones, ending its complete reliance on Qualcomm, which will still supply chips for the Pixel 5A of lower price.

Nikkei Asia previously reported that Samsung would manufacture the processor for Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL.O). Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Samsung will also supply 5G modem technology.

Samsung’s move to provide Pixel modem technology is important because the Korean company is one of three companies in the world capable of manufacturing 5G modems that connect devices to wireless data networks. The others are Qualcomm, a market leader by a wide margin, and MediaTek Inc. of Taiwan (2454.TW).

Samsung makes extensive use of its Exynos modem technology in its own major smartphones in Asia and Europe. But he has long relied on Qualcomm to provide modems for US versions.

This is partly because Qualcomm has a technological advantage in a variant of 5G networks called the millimeter wave, which provides the fastest speeds available with the new networks. To date, all smartphones launched in the United States, including Apple’s iPhone Inc. (AAPL.O), have used Qualcomm chips to take advantage of millimeter-wave networks.

Samsung told Reuters that its new modem technology was capable of creating millimeter-wave networks and Google said its new phones will support millimeter-wave networks as previous versions did, all and that neither company would comment directly on whether they work together on the new Pixel.

Winning Google’s Pixel Business gives Samsung the first big opportunity to showcase its chip-making skills to the broader telephony industry, which has long been suspicious of buying a key component from a fierce rival, said Kevin Krewell , senior analyst at TIRIAS Research. The Korean firm had never sold its 5G modem chip technology to an outside company.

Qualcomm said in a statement that it maintained its technological advantage because its millimeter-wave technology depended on other chips in addition to the modem. “A modem is not enough to support the millimeter waves of phones,” Qualcomm said.

Reports by Stephen Nellis and Paresh Dave; additional reports by Joyce Lee and Heekyong Yang; edited by Peter Henderson and Howard Goller

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