5G to become game changer
Communication network and automotive technologies were once two different industries. But diversified customer needs accompanied with technology advancement are leading a convergence of the two.
One of the major topics in network technology during this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas earlier this year was the upcoming fifth-generation (5G) network era.
U.S.-based IT giant Intel, which showcased the world’s first 5G modem during the event, said the technology will be a game changer to bring innovation to “the way we experience life as it erodes the boundaries between the physical and digital.”
To accommodate the emergence of 5G, global carmakers have announced plans to use the network technology through partnerships with info-tech firms to introduce self-driving and connected cars.
Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn also said during his keynote speech at this year’s CES his company would expand its partnership with Microsoft to build the next generation of these car technologies.
Ghosn’s keynote included a demonstration of how Microsoft’s personal assistant technology Cortana can make driving more efficient and seamless.
"We invite others to join us as well, from tech partners to e-commerce companies, ride-hailing and car-sharing platforms, and social entrepreneurs who can help us test and develop new vehicles and services, and make sure everyone has access to the latest technologies and services that bring value to their lives," Ghosn said.
What’s 5G Network?
The concept of 5G network communication was first publicly introduced during the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radiocommunication Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland, October 2015.
Officially named the International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT)-2020, 5G network uses 28GHz ultrahigh frequency, different from its 4G predecessor that uses 2GHz frequency.
Under the ITU’s definition, 5G is required to offer the maximum download speed of up to 20 gigabytes per second while the lowest download speed should be faster than 100 megabytes per second. The network technology should provide various internet of things (IoT) services for at least 1 million devices within a one-kilometer radius.
Downloading under the 5G network environment is about 70 times faster than the current mobile communication network and about 280 times faster than existing LTE technology. A user can download a 1-gigabyte movie file in 10 seconds.
The network’s response time should also be less than 0.001 seconds, and it support mobile devices moving at up to 500 kilometers per hour. It is expected to be an important feature for an autonomous and connected car required to continuously exchange data with a central server without delay.
Korea’s three mobile operators have tested their 5G networks in pilot projects.
KT is expected to unveil the world’s first 5G network through its pilot project for the Pyeong Chang Winter Olympic Games next February.
Teamed up with Hyundai Motor, KT also successfully demonstrated a 5G-based self-driving bus last month. The 5G network allowed the bus to exchange traffic information, including other cars and possible obstacles on the roads, in real time via a central communication hub with transmission speed up to 20 gigabytes per second, KT said.
KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu also met with Tesla Chairman and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk last month to discuss a possible partnership for their self-driving car businesses.
They also shared their plans for the upcoming 5G network era.
The meeting followed their June deal where they agreed to jointly develop a telematics system for Tesla vehicles whose in-vehicle wireless internet service allows drivers to send and receive emails as well as get real-time traffic information on the road.
Aiming to commercialize the world’s first 5G network service by 2019, Korea’s second-largest mobile carrier said the partnership in the connected vehicle industry with Tesla came in recognition for KT’s years-long efforts to invest in the 5G network.
The Seoul-based company says the new network will become key to the future market of connected as well as self-driving cars.
The nation’s largest mobile carrier SK Telecom said it would establish the nation’s first pilot city for self-driving and connected cars in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. It successfully showcased a test drive for its connected car in the city jointly with BMW and Sweden-based telecommunication firm Ericsson early this year.
Future streets
Global carmakers are also engaging in cutthroat rivalries to win the upper hand in the upcoming era of autonomous and connected cars.
“I believe autonomous and connected car technologies are correlated to each other in the future car industry. That’s where carmakers, IT and communication firms should work together,” Daelim University professor Kim Pil-soo said.
“In order to introduce a fully autonomous car, massive data trans- mission between each car as well as with a traffic control center should be there in real time. With such an environment, drivers can receive not only traffic but also commercial information on their way to their destinations without driving their cars. The central traffic control center will automatically change street signals in accordance with a vehicle’s route so it won’t have to stop and wait for a green light.”
Hyundai Motor research center engineer Kim Jin-hak said such vehicles will be seen soon on the highways.
“I think self-driving technology will be introduced on the nation’s highways and streets within five years," Kim said.
“I believe the related technologies are almost there. When it comes to in-city self-driving technology, there are many steps for us to go through. Not only global top carmakers such as Hyundai but also IT firms including Google are developing these technologies using the high-speed communication environment.”
German premium carmaker Mercedes-Benz expressed its confidence in future autonomous and connected car technologies, calling for authorities to change related laws to introduce such cars.
“I believe the technology is already here," Mercedes-Benz S-Class Quality Development manager Dominik Voogdt said.
“Mercedes-Benz’s related technologies are exceptional. It is regrettable that related traffic laws for such technologies aren’t here yet. It is, of course, an automaker that delivers the technology, but the authorities should also work on the legal framework to get driverless and connected vehicles on the streets.”
Mercedes-Benz’s latest S-Class sedan models introduced in September commercialized its connected car safety technology.
“When a car deploys airbags in case of accident, the S-Class sedan automatically detects the vehicle’s possible damage and calls an ambulance via the Mercedes-Benz control center. It will shorten the golden hours to help passengers get medical help as soon as possible,” a Mercedes-Benz official said.