4G threat to driverless car trials

MORE than a third of England’s motorway network is without 4G coverage, presenting an obstacle to the trials of driverless cars.

The M6 through Birmingham has the worst signal of any major motorway at 46.89 per cent, according to research by Global Wireless Solutions, which also found that 3 was the poorest network for consistent 4G coverage.

Government is now pushing ahead with funding for the 5G required for autonomous cars, but the latest findings show how five years after 4G was rolled out, huge signal gaps still exist. It puts a question mark over plans to test cars on motorways between London and Oxford by 2019, too.

Paul Carter, of Global Wireless Solutions, said: “Action must be taken by Government and local authorities to empower operators to build the next generation of networks cost-effectively and with minimal red tape.”