LG Innotek develops fastest automotive Wi-Fi module
LG Innotek has developed a next-generation automotive Wi-Fi module that uses a larger channel bandwidth — an industry first — raising hope that the LG Group affiliate can improve its presence in the in-vehicle communication module market, which has been dominated by Japanese companies.
The company said Tuesday that it had succeeded in developing the Wi-Fi 6E module that uses the 6-gigahertz bandwidth to provide data transmission speeds about three times faster than the existing Wi-Fi 5 module.
With cars using highly advanced in-vehicle infotainment systems, providing seamless networking speed has become important. LG Innotek said vehicles with its Wi-Fi 6E module will allow passengers to enjoy high-definition movies and games running on augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR).
“LG Innotek has successfully developed the world’s first Wi-Fi 6E module with advanced radio frequency (RF) and antenna technology. The company has accumulated development capabilities in automotive communication since 2005,” the company said. “Using this experience, LG Innotek has improved the data transceiver performance of the new RF structure and antenna design with minimum communication interference.”
The company said the new Wi-Fi module boasts improved communication performance and durability.
As its Wi-Fi 6E has a data transmission speed of 1.2 gigabits per second, it only takes 2 milliseconds to connect to the network, which is seven times faster than the current speed, and has no buffering issues when playing high-resolution videos. The Wi-Fi 6E module also enables seamless internet use with multiple connections.
Durability-wise, the product can withstand temperature changes from minus 40 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius. “The module is not easily deformed by low temperatures in winter, and it can endure the heat generated by data transmission,” the company said.
To expand its share in the automotive
communication module market, LG Innotek will strengthen promotional activities targeting global automotive components makers in North America, Europe, Japan and China.
“The company expects to commercialize the product in 2022. It plans to do joint promotions with Germany’s Infineon Technologies, which supplies Wi-Fi 6E automotive chipsets,” LG Innotek said.
Kim Sung-kug, vice president and head of the Automotive Components & Electronics Business unit at LG Innotek, said: “the importance of in-vehicle infotainment for the next-generation mobility will grow further
Market tracker Techno Systems Research said demand for automotive Wi-Fi communication modules will grow by 70 percent to 87.3 million modules in 2025, from 51.2 million modules in 2020.