Comcast signed a deal with Samsung to activate its deep spectrum holdings and become an infrastructure-owning 5G cellular operator targeting market heavyweights Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile US. The move is a significant shift for the cable giant that has so far only circled around the edges of being a full-scale cellular operator.

The deal will see Comcast use Samsung’s 5G radio access network (RAN) equipment for its Xfinity Mobile service. This will include a newly developed 5G Strand Small Cell that is designed to be mounted on Comcast’s existing aerial cable lines. This all-in-one piece of equipment is central to the deployment as it will allow Comcast to mount cellular antennas where it’s already running cable connections for wireless backhaul.

The strand device will support the quasi-licensed Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum in the 3.5 GHz-3.65 GHz band. Comcast will also tap into its robust 600 MHz spectrum holding that it acquired as part of a government auction in early 2018.

Comcast did not provide any additional details on its network plans, though Samsung did say that it was not providing any network core equipment as part of the deal.

Tom Nagel, SVP of wireless strategy at Comcast, explained in a blog post that the cable provider will limit its initial deployment to its core cable markets.

“We have no plans to build out a full national wireless network, rather, where it makes sense, we plan to selectively deploy our own 5G radios in dense, high-traffic areas of the markets we serve today,” he stated.

Nagel added that Comcast’s current licensed spectrum holdings cover around 80% of the homes with access to its wired cable product and 50% of the U.S. population. “And those are the areas where we’ll focus,” he said.

The move comes on the heels of what has been solid wireless customer growth for the cable provider. Nagel noted in his blog post that Comcast’s wireless efforts turned profitable starting last year, and the carrier has been one of the larger customer growth drivers over the past several quarters.

Comcast also recently slashed pricing for its Xfinity Mobile service, undercutting similar rate plans from larger rivals AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile US.

“Thanks to their low operating costs due to the leasing of spectrum from the carriers and the dynamic use of existing Wi-Fi networks, the cable companies have been able to offer much lower prices for wireless plans than are on offer at the carriers,” Matthew Orf, research analyst at Counterpoint Technology Market Research, noted in a recent blog post. “This value proposition has been recognized by consumers who are looking to save money amid macroeconomic uncertainty and high inflation.”