Opening the Door to the 4G Era Samsung Electronics is at the forefront of standardization of the 4G (fourth generation) mobile communication, whose commercialization is expected by 2010. A total of 15 Samsung officials are now participating in seven groups related to third and fourth generation technologies, such as 3GPP and WWRF, as chairman members, leading the activities for standardization of the 4G mobile communications, Samsung Electronics President Lee Ki-tae said. The world's third-largest cell phone producer has actively engaged in R&D activities concerning the 4G mobile communications and already secured 220 patents related to the 4G mobile communications. The 4th generation refers to a next-generation wireless access technology that promises an ultra high-speed mobile connection to the Internet for people on the move. The velocity of 4G is expected to reach 100 megabits per second (Mbps) on the road, more than 100 times faster than today's mobile Internet, and 1Gbps at a standstill. It is fast enough to materialize long overdue pledges about a ubiquitous society by offering services such as video conferencing and downloading large-volume data with cell phones. Related to this, Samsung holds the 4G forum annually to discuss the vision and strategy of the futuristic platform, Lee said. For standardization of mobile communication, a total of 165 Samsung officials, including 40 researchers in Samsung's four overseas research centers, are engaging in R&D activities. At the Samsung 4G Forum 2005, the third of its kind, held at Shilla Hotel in Jeju Island on Aug. 29, meanwhile, 140 representatives from electronics makers, manufacturers and standardization organizations in 20 countries attended. Lee said, "Samsung 4G Forum has been developed into an international event as a growing number of countries are paying keen attention to the 4G mobile communication technology." At the forum, relevant people from North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Australia and Africa participated. Samsung Electronics suggested the direction for development of 4G mobile communication technologies, including wireless interface, at the first Samsung 4G Forum in 2003 under the subject, "Global strategy of the 4G communication." At the second Samsung 4G Forum in 2004, Samsung sought concrete ways for development of 4G mobile communication technologies under the subject, "Migration paths towards 4G networks." The world's top organizations for 4G standardization are International Telecommunication Union (ITU) comprising 649 member companies from 189 countries and its affiliate ITU-R WP8F. The ITU and ITU-R WP8F issue a final approval to a draft for 4G standardization, which was set by country and region, playing a role to establish global standardization. By region, Wireless World Research Forum (WWRF) and European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) represent Europe, whereas Asia - Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and its subsidiary APT Wireless Forum (AWF) represent Asia and Pacific regions. The Ministry of Information and Communication also plans to develop a test system to implement 4G technology by 2007, leading the global standardization and relevant markets. Along with this, Next Generation Mobile Communication (NGMC) Forum, which was established jointly by the ministry and domestic major communication providers and makers in 2003, is seeking close cooperation with the Japanese and Chinese 4G standardization organizations "mITF" and "FuTURE," leading the standardization in the Asian and Pacific regions. In the meantime, Samsung aims at leading the global 4G technology based on WiBro, the locally developed portable Internet. With the global interest in the next-generation mobile communication technology WiBro growing, Samsung has begun to push for globalization of WiBro. The electronics maker has set 2006 as the first year to expand the WiBro business to the world in earnest. In 2006, Samsung plans to commercialize the WiBro business in earnest and supply WiBro to major communication carriers in the world. After concluding a contract with Sprint Nextel of the United States, BT of Britain, KDDI of Japan and TVA of Brazil last year, Samsung has been making a strong push for commercialization of the WiBro business. Accordingly, Samsung's WiBro is expected to spread to the five Oceans and the six Continents this year. President Lee said, "Since the nation's successful hosting of the APEC, major communication carriers in the world have been expressing keen interest in WiBro, requesting Samsung to offer the WiBro exemplary service. As a result, the nation's WiBro service is expected to rush into foreign markets this year." Samsung has completed all necessary preparations for commercialization of WiBro, including terminal and system. Samsung WiBro is now equipped with various conditions to advance into foreign markets. As WiBro was officially adopted as the mobile WiMax, the broadband wireless access international technology standard, in December last year, WiBro is expected to emerge as one of the world's communication technologies in earnest from this year. For international standardization of WiBro, Samsung exerted best efforts by advancing its researchers to the board of directors of WiMax Forum and the council of chairmen. If WiBro secures its firm position as an international standard technology, South Korea will secure standard of the world's mobile Internet market, raising the possibility of grasping the leadership in the world's third-generation mobile communication market, Lee said. "Through globalization of WiBro, the pure locally developed communication technology, we will create a successful myth of Korea's IT. 2006 will be the first year for globalization of WiBro," said the professional manager. WiBro is the homegrown portable Internet that enables people on the move to remain hooked up to the Internet at the speed of the current fixed-line broadband. It boasts of the highest data transmission speed among mobile communication technologies. In case of succeeding in commercializing WiBro, Samsung can download 36-page newspaper within 0.7 seconds and the MP3 10 melodies within 24 seconds, said Lee. Meanwhile, market analysts said that President Lee has made a turning point for Samsung to create the second CDMA myth with the successful demonstration of the commercializationlevel WiBro at the APEC. Related to this, Lee said, "In the past, some people were skeptical about WiBro. However, I had confidence in the possibility of success and poured all of my passion for WiBro. He was always in the forefront of the project to develop and demonstrate WiBro along with developers. "In the global communication market in the past, Samsung with bare hands had to fight with foreign rivals armed with knives and guns. With the development of WiBro, however, we are now equipped with a wooden sword. Although it is a somewhat underestimated metaphorical expression, the important thing is that we now have a competitive technology we can boast in the royalty competition." He said that WiBro is a new blue ocean creating the superspeed wireless data market and the gate of the fourth Internet revolution.