U.S. Cellular to boost capex for 5G, adds Samsung as supplier

U.S. Cellular – the nation's largest regional wireless network operator with around 5 million customers – said it expects to increase spending on its network in 2020 to help fuel 5G launches. Concurrently, the company announced it would add Samsung as a 5G equipment vendor alongside Nokia and Ericsson, its two previously announced 5G vendors. The announcement represents yet another win for Samsung, which has been gaining significant ground in 5G equipment sales among nationwide US wireless network operators like Verizon and AT&T. U.S. Cellular said Samsung would also supply 4G equipment under the new agreement. For its 5G buildout, U.S. Cellular said capital expenses in 2020 could be as much as $950 million. That's far more than the $710 million the operator spent on its network and operations during 2019.