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Samsung pinning hopes on 5G to turn around mobile profits in 2020

Samsung recently releases its fourth quarter earnings report ending December 2019. In it the South Korean firm saw a relatively flat performance year-on-year, with revenue increasing by 1 percent to $50.7 billion. Operating profit, however, fell a significant 34 percent for the quarter to $6 billion.

Samsung cites a drop in the price of memory chips for the fall, but more interesting is the firm’s outlook for 2020.

To that end the company has highlighted 5G as a potential driver of profit and revenue in the coming year, and mobile devices that support the standard in particular. Last year saw Samsung debut a handful of handsets that supported the new mobile broadband standard, such as the Galaxy S10 5G (pictured above), but the devices were only released in selected regions (not South Africa).

2020 then could see a greater number of 5G devices enter the market from Samsung.

“The Mobile Business aims to improve profits by expanding sales of premium models, such as the enhanced 5G lineup and new foldable devices. The Network Business will focus on addressing the global 5G market as its Korean business is set to shrink following last year’s nationwide 5G adoption,” noted the firm in a statement.

“In the Consumer Electronics Division, the Company will seek to increase sales of QLED 8K TVs and launch new premium appliances such as Bespoke and new lifestyle models,” it adds.

While that means that more 8K TVs could be headed to South Africa’s shores this year, there is still a bit of uncertainty on the 5G phone front. This as the necessary spectrum for 5G in South Africa has not been made available by the government.

Whether that changes in coming months remains to be seen, but without it, there would be very little reason for Samsung to bring such devices to SA, especially given the premium you pay for them at the moment.

We should have a better idea of what Samsung Mobile South Africa’s plans are next month, when the first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year is scheduled. There, new devices will be revealed, and hopefully more information on local availability will be in the offing.

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