Telcos and car makers have launched the latest 5G consortium, this time looking at how next generation technology can be brought onto the roads.
The 5G Automotive Association comprises Audi, BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ericsson, Huawei, Intel, Nokia and Qualcomm.
It promises to develop, trial and promote cellular solutions, support the standardisation of technology and speed up its availability and adoption.
Specifically, the association, which has issued an open call for new members to join, said it wants to support standardisation and regulatory bodies, as well as the various certification and approval processes.
The companies want to address the requirements of “vehicle to everything” technology, specifically wireless connectivity, security, privacy, authentication and distributed cloud architecture.
The association will also run innovation and development projects concentrating on integrated solutions, interoperability testing, and wide-ranging pilots.
In a joint statement, the companies talked up the potential of cellular technology for the automotive sector, which would lead to road safety feature, infotainment and automated driving.
Ulf Ewaldsson, Chief Technology Officer, Ericsson, said: “The success of 5G is dependent on cross-industry work in new ecosystems to digitalize industries. With the creation of this Association we will leverage our latest technology, 5G, and work closely together with the car industry to jointly develop solutions as well as provide input to regulation, certification and standardisation. We are excited to be co-founder and to work with leading automotive companies shaping the connected car solutions for the future.”
Sajjad Khan, Director Digital Vehicle & Mobility, Daimler, added: “The connected car enables us to offer our customers services, both inside and outside the vehicle, which make their daily routine tasks easier, increase comfort and safety and thus create considerable added value. The fundamental basis for this is a reliable and fast connectivity technology whose standards have global validity.
“Together with the other founding members of the “5G Automotive Association”, we as Daimler AG are working on precisely that – with the aim of raising car connectivity as well to a new level with the advent of the next generation of mobile phone technology.”
Earlier this year car manufacturers backed the GSMA’s embedded SIM technology for the connected car.