Samsung promises world 5G by 2020

Firm says network will be hundreds of times faster than 4G

Samsung has confirmed that it is working to release a new 5G network by the end of 2020, which will be hundreds of times faster than 4G.

The firm reported making a technological breakthrough in its 5G research on Monday, confirming that it will be able to offer mobile users unprecedented connectivity when it is launched.

Samsung said: "5G is hundreds of times faster than the current fourth-generation (4G) mobile networks. The maximum transmission speed of 5G mobile communication is expected to reach tens of Gbit/s. Just one ultra high definition movie file can be transferred within seconds."

The firm said it is still testing and developing the technology and that it will not be ready for commercial release anytime soon. "In the ultra high frequency band, problems arise in the transmission of radio waves' propagation loss with the distance shortened," Samsung noted.

Samsung claimed that the technology will cement its future as a leader in the telecommunications industry. The firm is currently more famous for its Galaxy range of smartphones, which are universally listed as the top-selling Android smartphones in the world. The firm's past success has led many analyst houses to predict that its most recent flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4, may be the first ever Android smartphone to outsell the next Apple iPhone.

The 2020 release promise matches the European Commission's, which invested a further €50m at 5G research projects earlier this year. The UK government also revealed plans to launch a £35m 5G research centre in October 2012.

The news comes during the UK's general 4G network rollout, which began early in 2012. The rollout has been slow, hampered by ongoing bidding and legislative battles between the country's network operators. Most recently the UK government announced several legislative changes designed to speed up the country's 4G rollout.