O2 to create connected route for driverless cars
TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant O2 has signed a partnership deal to support the testing of driverless vehicles in the West Midlands.
The company is working with Solihull-based Wireless Infrastructure Group (WIG) to deliver connectivity for the trials.
The collaboration is aiming to develop what is expected to be Europe’s largest fibre-connected, small cell network which is due to be launched in 2020 and will form part of the Midlands Future Mobility project.
Small cell networks are used to enhance capacity and coverage and are typically installed throughout a building or outdoor area with hightraffic demands for mobile broadband.
O2 will provide the connectivity along a 50-mile route running through Birmingham and Coventry to test new technologies which could transform road travel in the next decade.
This will include advanced communication services to support the real-world testbed in the West Midlands and engineering support around the design of small cells along the route.
This latest announcement follows the news in September that the West Midlands would be used as a test region for new 5G mobile services.
Brendan O’Reilly, chief technology officer at O2, said: “Following our successful deployment of the UK’s first centralised radio network in Aberdeen, in partnership with WIG, we will be using this same cuttingedge technology across what we expect to be Europe’s largest fibre connected small cell network.
“Mobile powers our modern world and 5G has even more potential to move Britain forward which is why we’re excited to be working together with WIG to continue to build this technology into the fabric of our cities and communities.”
Scott Coates, chief executive of WIG, added: “We are delighted to be working with O2 to build this 5G-ready neutral host infrastructure.
“The new infrastructure will enable services by O2 and will also be open to other mobile operators to join.”
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “We are delighted to be working with O2 and WIG to test autonomous vehicles on roads here in the West Midlands.
“As the heart of the UK’s future mobility research and development, and the UK’s first region-wide 5G testbed, the West Midlands is wellpositioned to create thousands of new jobs in the industries of the future.”
Testing of driverless vehicles by Jaguar Land Rover took place earlier this year on streets in Coventry city