The decision for a major telecommunications operator to replace its network core is one of the most consequential moves it can make, akin to a human undergoing a brain and central nervous system transplant. This critical infrastructure governs every connection, every data packet, and every service delivered to millions of customers. A misstep can lead to catastrophic outages and a loss of customer trust that is nearly impossible to regain. It is within this high-stakes context that Canadian telecom leader Videotron made the pivotal choice to entrust Samsung Electronics with the modernization of its 4G LTE and 5G network core. This agreement was not a sudden leap of faith but the culmination of a multi-year partnership, a strategic alignment on technological philosophy, and a clear signal of Samsung’s rising influence in the competitive North American network landscape. Understanding the drivers behind this decision reveals a compelling story about how trust is built and how future-proof networks are being designed today.
A Partnership Forged in the Field
The groundwork for this landmark agreement was laid years prior when Videotron first selected Samsung in 2019 to supply its Radio Access Network (RAN), the essential infrastructure of cell towers and antennas that directly connects with user devices. This initial deployment served as an extended, real-world crucible for Samsung’s technology, operational support, and overall reliability. By consistently delivering a high-performance and resilient RAN at the network’s edge, Samsung methodically built a deep reservoir of trust with the Canadian operator. This proven track record became the single most crucial factor in the decision to elevate the partnership. The move from the network’s periphery to its absolute center represents a significant escalation of responsibility. Videotron’s leadership was clear that Samsung’s demonstrated success in the demanding RAN environment provided the necessary confidence to undertake the far more complex and critical overhaul of the core network, a powerful endorsement of Samsung’s end-to-end technological capabilities.
Entrusting a vendor with the network core is the ultimate vote of confidence, as this “brain” orchestrates the most vital functions of a telecommunications system. It manages everything from authenticating a user’s identity and enforcing service policies to routing data traffic and ensuring seamless connectivity. For an operator with a vast customer base like Videotron, which serves over 4.3 million mobile subscribers, the reliability of this central hub is non-negotiable. The process of migrating a live network core is fraught with risk and operational complexity, demanding a level of trust that can only be earned through years of flawless execution. The decision to proceed with Samsung underscores that the vendor had successfully transitioned from a mere equipment supplier to a deeply integrated strategic partner. This profound level of confidence was a direct result of Samsung’s ability to prove its value and dependability over time, showcasing that its best-in-class virtualized network technology could handle the immense scale and demands of a leading national carrier.
The Strategic Imperative of an Open Architecture
Beyond the foundation of trust, the technological solution presented by Samsung was a decisive factor, embodying the industry’s definitive shift away from closed, proprietary systems. The new core is built on a thoroughly modern, cloud-native architecture that embraces an open, multi-vendor philosophy. This approach fundamentally disaggregates hardware and software, freeing Videotron from the expensive and restrictive “vendor lock-in” that has historically plagued the telecom sector. Specifically, Samsung’s advanced virtualized core software operates on industry-standard Dell PowerEdge servers, which are in turn powered by high-performance AMD EPYC server processors. The entire ecosystem is orchestrated and managed by Red Hat OpenShift, a leading Kubernetes-based hybrid cloud platform. This best-of-breed strategy empowers Videotron with unprecedented control and agility, allowing it to integrate and swap components from different suppliers to optimize both performance and cost.
This commitment to an open, software-defined infrastructure delivers tangible business advantages that directly support Videotron’s strategic goals. The inherent flexibility of the cloud-native design allows the operator to dynamically scale network capacity and services up or down to meet fluctuating demand, an essential capability for supporting the rapid national expansion of its digital-first mobile brand, Fizz. This agility ensures that infrastructure can grow efficiently and cost-effectively alongside its customer base. Furthermore, by leveraging commercially available, off-the-shelf hardware from market leaders like Dell and AMD, Videotron can significantly reduce its capital expenditures. When combined with the high degree of automation inherent in platforms like Red Hat OpenShift, this approach also promises to lower long-term operational expenditures, creating a more sustainable and competitive economic model for its next phase of growth.
A Blueprint for Future Growth
The modernization of Videotron’s network core served as a critical technological leap that provided the essential tools for national expansion and market competition. The new infrastructure was not merely an upgrade but a strategic re-platforming designed to enhance resilience for its existing millions of customers while providing the scalable foundation required to challenge incumbents across Canada. Samsung engineered the deployment to be “automation-ready,” integrating AI-driven analytics and intelligent lifecycle management directly into its fabric. This “AI-native core” is capable of predictive maintenance, proactively identifying potential issues before they impact service, and performing real-time resource optimization based on live traffic patterns. This advanced degree of automation significantly reduces the operational complexity and manual intervention needed to manage the network, leading to substantial efficiency gains and allowing Videotron to focus resources on innovation and customer service.
For Samsung, this expanded partnership with Videotron represented a watershed moment, solidifying its position as a formidable end-to-end network solutions provider in the highly discerning North American market. This agreement did not occur in a vacuum; it followed a series of strategic wins with other major Canadian carriers, including deploying a cloud-native 4G/5G core for SaskTel and pioneering North America’s first roaming gateway with Telus. The Videotron deal, however, marked a crucial escalation by demonstrating Samsung’s ability to win a customer’s deepest trust and displace established competitors in the most critical segment of the network. This success sent a clear message to operators globally that Samsung’s strategy of leveraging its expertise in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing to deliver technologically superior and competitively priced solutions was a powerful and viable alternative to the traditional network equipment giants.
