Industry experts point out that in order to meet the challenges of commercialization and bring 5G experiences to the automotive industry in a unified manner, investors and industry players must make smart investments and commit to building strong cross-industry partnerships.

Whether driving on mountain roads or speeding on the highway, today's network connections require extreme precision and speed. From in-car navigation devices to dash cams, the information sent to drivers and passengers must be stutter-free and nearly flawless.

This rapidly growing demand has brought 5G wireless data to the forefront of innovation in automotive technology. Self-driving cars may be just the tip of the iceberg. And industry pioneers are leveraging low-latency, high-speed transmission technologies to promote new connected car concepts that could help shape the fabric of cities, the way businesses operate, and the way people live their daily lives.

It all starts with smarter cars for a safer and easier future, a major goal for the future of the automotive industry. According to data released by research firm McKinsey & Company, in the next eight years, the revenue of the auto industry is expected to increase by 30%, and its scale will exceed 5 trillion US dollars.

With the latest 5G services and edge computing technologies, many tech companies and automakers are testing new connected car concepts to meet the needs of today's drivers. Their common goal is to develop a modern car that can act as a personalised smartphone, human assistant, real-time traffic and weather forecaster, and safely transmit data in an emergency.

Automotive Technology Innovation in Smart Cities

Without innovations in automotive technology, smart city planning may stall. There are currently hundreds of smart city projects around the world, and according to World Bank estimates, there could be as many as 2 billion cars driving the world by 2050. And smart cities need to create more coordinated traffic systems to avoid road congestion, which requires complex data systems that rely on various sensors installed on roads and vehicles.

One of the biggest innovations right now is "vehicle-to-everything" (V2X) technology, which enables direct communication between vehicles and their surroundings, including other vehicles. V2X and "vehicle networking" (often referred to as "the Internet of Things on the road") were initially rolled out in the US, Europe and Japan and standardized in 2010. More recently, V2X technology has evolved to include highly coordinated software that detects and interacts with everything, such as road signs, potholes, and badly damaged pavement, through onboard touchscreens. Sensors powered by 5G transmissions can now be embedded in multiple parts of the car to ensure safe and seamless navigation while ensuring the privacy of the owner and driver.

For example, multi-edge computing software platforms like MECWAVE leverage ultra-low latency signals to accelerate deployment and scaling on V2X5 and non-V2X vehicles and devices, including bicycles, scooters, smartphones and smart glasses. MEC WAVE is complemented by two additional solutions: HARMAN Savari StreetWAVE and Savari MobiWAVE, which can be used together or separately to enhance vehicle communication.

lead the future

Another major advance in this work is in-vehicle maps, which allow navigation systems to accurately identify specific locations and events for short periods of time without interruption. In-vehicle GPS navigation systems are constantly evolving, and the rapid development of V2X will further advance detailed mapping of drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Through 5G networks and edge computing, road traffic, weather and other cloud-focused service pairs will provide drivers with smarter and smoother transportation services. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that these technologies can greatly improve the accuracy and validity of today's car features.

Mobile applications have dominated nearly all technological innovations in recent years, and the low latency and high throughput of 5G, along with its reliability, unlocks endless potential for the future of the automotive industry. From in-vehicle displays and cameras to tailored entertainment and news, every essential feature is maturing and improving. In-vehicle displays will provide a richer experience that can be enhanced with 3D maps, high-definition video and cloud-based streaming, while optimized data transfer speeds will save automakers and drivers time and money.

Of course, the future of the automotive world will be to give drivers and pedestrians greater control. Such missions require responsive and reliable data, available even in remote locations, through trusted providers and secure platforms. And 5G provides increased reliability, which is crucial in such scenarios, making it a key factor in critical decisions in the car.

Mobile, Network and Security

According to a mobile market report released by Ericsson recently, the number of 5G subscribers worldwide has soared in recent years from less than 200 million in 2019 to more than 650 million at the end of last year, as network speeds have steadily improved. North America has been leading the way with nearly 30% 5G penetration in 2021. Globally, the number of commercial and consumer 5G subscriptions is expected to surpass 1 billion by the end of this year.

The global automotive technology market utilizing 5G technology is also expected to grow steadily as drivers and pedestrians need to be notified almost instantly of car crashes and other traffic hazards, road construction and extreme weather conditions in today’s world.

The 5G Automotive Association and its eight global members recently partnered with a local public group in Virginia, USA, to test the concept in a field trial in Blacksburg. Leveraging 5G signals and multiple-access edge computing, high-speed computers connect to car sensors and smartphones, as well as provide real-time data through user-authorized apps. For example, all connected devices will receive a warning message if there is a potential danger nearby.

Advances in these technologies are key to reducing traffic accidents, which are growing at a record rate today, such as the approximately 6 million crashes in the United States each year. Instead of simply detecting their surroundings, 5G-enabled cars, trucks and other vehicles can now communicate with them on the spot to help reduce collisions and ensure safer traffic.

Given the transition to electric and autonomous vehicles, connected cars will increasingly get remote software and firmware updates to help keep their internal technology updated. Over time, the continued expansion of 5G will allow larger amounts of data to be sent to vehicles at faster speeds.

Likewise, passengers will be able to stream data, chat and upload content at faster speeds, creating a more immersive experience. And as more employees return to the office and commute times increase, passengers are likely to be in the car for video conferences.