5G Telematics Cooperation
LG Electronics and Intel are collaborating to research and develop “fifth-generation (5G)-based telematics technology,” the next generation of wireless technology for cars.
During a press conference at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2016 held in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 22 (local time), Intel announced that it has formed the 5G network alliance with six companies, including LG Electronics. LG Electronics is the only auto-parts manufacturer among Intel's 5G partners.
Telematics is a combination of telecommunication and informatics, which allows vehicles to receive and transmit data, including traffic information, in real-time. The telematics system will be also widely used in such areas as emergency rescue operations, location tracing for stolen vehicles and remote diagnostics for vehicles.
5G telematics is expected to transmit data about 33 times faster than the fourth-generation (4G) long-term-evolution (LTE) network system, reducing data latency in less than a tenth of the time in the existing system.
Software can be updated at high speeds through over-the-air (OTA) networks while videos and other large multimedia content will see faster downloads through the car's infotainment systems. Powered by vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, 5G's dramatically reduced latency is possible even when cars are travelling at high speeds. Communication from vehicle to vehicle, vehicle to infrastructure or vehicle to pedestrian through 5G without delay can also help prevent accidents for a safer driving experience.
LG Electronics is actively conducting telematics business in the smart car industry by utilizing the communications technology in its mobile communications (MC) division and automobile component technology in the vehicle components (VC) division.
LG Electronics has succeeded in supplying the LTE-based telematics system, instead of 3G or 2G, for the first time in the automotive component industry. In particular, the company is the exclusive supplier of vehicle telematics for GM's 4G LTE OnStar telematics system which has helped LG take the top position in automotive telematics for three years in a row with a market share of 30.1 percent in 2013, 30.3 percent in 2014 and 29.9 percent in 2015, according to market research firm Strategy Analytics.