LIVE FROM GSMA MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS AMERICAS 2018: Samsung’s North America boss underlined his company’s growing status as a major 5G player in the region during this morning’s (13 September) keynote.

The company failed to threaten the big three network vendors during 3G and 4G buildouts, but has already scored deals with AT&T, Sprint and Verizon in the move to 5G.

And it’s not just networks where Samsung will battle it out.

“We’re well positioned. We have the semiconductors, of course we have the devices and we have the network equipment,” stated Tim Baxter, president and CEO of Samsung Electronics North America (pictured).

Baxter also stressed the company’s ambition to “connect everything”, thanks in part to its IoT-based SmartThings offering: “We’ve one app, one cloud, and a new user interface, voice,” he declared (a reference to Samsung’s voice assistant Bixby). “It’s been a multi-year journey.”

Naturally, Baxter was excited about the potential of 5G, claiming it will take the mobile experience “to a whole new level.”

“2G enabled us to put a phone in our pocket. 3G and 4G put the internet in our pocket. 5G will enable us to put the equivalent of fibre [connectivity] in our cars, home, pocket and offices. It will open up a whole new plethora of opportunities.”