Picture this: You’ve just moved into a new home in a rural area. There's no fiber, no cable, and no landline — but you still need blazing-fast internet in order to work, stream, and game without disruption. Even worse, all that needs to happen in the next few days. What’s the solution? It could likely be a 5G CPE device, which can give you access to the speed and stability you need without any of the usual installation hassle. But to understand how this is even possible, we first have to take a deeper look at what CPE actually is.
What is Customer Premises Equipment?
Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) refers to devices that are installed in homes and offices to convert signals — sent by Mobile Network Operators(MNO) and Internet Service Providers(ISP) — into a usable network. Most people have used CPE at home before, so they have an idea of what it is, even if they might not be familiar with the term itself. Devices like routers, xDSL, and Cable modems are all considered types of CPE, and they typically transmit and receive signals through copper or fiber optic cables. However, 5G CPE goes a step further by enabling a direct connection to the internet using only a wireless 5G signal.
5G CPE makes it possible to create an ultra-high-speed internet environment without a wired installation, offering users simple setup, mobility, and reliable performance for data-intensive tasks. This is particularly valuable during the AI era, because of the need to stably and rapidly process vast amounts of data. Even so, this technology represents a powerful step forward in everyday connectivity — especially for underserved areas — and its broader significance becomes clear when assessing the current market landscape and beyond.
In fact, Samsung Electronics is already helping to shape this landscape, leveraging its modem expertise and global partnerships to drive broader adoption of 5G CPE. With new solutions in development and mass production ramping up, Samsung is positioning itself as one of the key players in a market that has so much potential to improve internet user experiences.
Four Key Reasons To Advance 5G CPE Technology
[1] Fast, Stable Internet Access, Almost Anywhere
5G CPE provides fast and stable internet access by utilizing 5G connectivity in areas without wired networks, enabling seamless performance for data-heavy applications like video streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing. This type of ultra-high-speed internet environment greatly enhances the user experience, and it also makes network services available in regions that previously faced limitations due to the absence of wired infrastructure.
[2] Reduced Installation Costs and Time
Installing fiber-optic cables or other types of wired networks requires significant cost and time. With 5G CPE, users can access the internet immediately after setting up the device, significantly reducing the expenses and effort needed for installation and operation. This is especially advantageous when quickly establishing networks in small buildings, newly developed areas, or temporary facilities.
[3] Bridging the Digital Divide
5G CPE can provide stable internet connectivity in underserved areas or environments requiring a high degree of mobility. This helps bridge the digital divide and enables communities outside of urban centers to benefit from dependable network access. It also offers the flexibility to efficiently establish connections in disaster situations or mobile facilities.
[4] AI-Powered Optimization
While 5G CPE provides high-speed internet access, signal quality and speed can vary depending on the usage environment. When combined with AI, however, systems can optimize network traffic to maintain stable speeds even when multiple devices are connected simultaneously. AI can also automatically adjust signal paths and analyze device conditions to predict issues in advance, ultimately delivering a smarter and more efficient internet experience to users.
The Core Technologies Powering 5G CPE
The 5G modem inside CPE enables direct wireless communication with 5G base stations, making broadband data communication possible on fixed terminals. While the basic principles are similar to those of a smartphone modem, a 5G CPE modem is tuned for fixed, always-on use. That means:
- High-power transmission for larger cellular coverage and more consistent links.
- More CCs* and bandwidth with extreme spectral efficiency to guarantee sufficient data rate.
- Advanced MIMO¹ to handle multiple data streams efficiently.
- Beamforming² to improve signal directionality and overall link quality.
- Low/stable latency³ to support time-sensitive applications.
Through these optimizations, the 5G modem is the core component that allows CPE to function as a viable wireless alternative to fiber or cable. On top of this, 5G modem capabilities are continuing to evolve in line with advances in AI, which is enabling increasingly better connection experiences.
Once the 5G modem receives the signal, the CPE then distributes the internet connection to the local network via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or other means. To achieve robust Wi-Fi connections, technologies such as high-performance antennas, beamforming, and MIMO are utilized once again, expanding signal coverage as well as increasing data transmission and stability — even when multiple devices are simultaneously connected to a single CPE unit.
Samsung’s Vision for the Future of CPE Connectivity
As the cost of building wired internet infrastructure continues to rise, 5G CPE-based internet services are seeing increased adoption due to their low cost and high efficiency, particularly in underserved areas. This trend will likely strengthen in the 6G era↗, which aims to realize integrated wired–wireless networks and utilize FWA CPE⁴ as a key driver in expanding broadband access.
Building on its leading modem technology, Samsung Electronics’ System LSI Business plans to grow its presence in the CPE market, across both 5G and 6G. Integrating advanced AI capabilities, specifically AI agents, is expected to enhance system throughput and coverage substantially, unlocking new possibilities for consumers and industries.
System LSI Business, based on its success stories in the 5G mobile modem field — including the first commercialization of Android-based satellite connectivity — has made a full-fledged entry into the CPE modem market in the first half of the year, and is pursuing market expansion through partnerships with major telecommunications operators.
* All images shown are provided for illustrative purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the products.
1) Multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) is a wireless technology that uses multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver ends to send and receive more data simultaneously, boosting network capacity and efficiency.
2) Beamforming is a signal processing technique that directs wireless signals toward specific receiving devices, instead of broadcasting in all directions, improving link quality and reducing interference.
3) 5G CPE connectivity is better able to minimize consistent delays in data transmission, which is critical for applications requiring real-time responsiveness, such as online gaming.
4) Fixed wireless access (FWA) CPE refers to devices installed at customer sites that provide high-speed internet access over fixed wireless networks, like 5G.
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