Vodafone Group has become the first telecommunications operator to join the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), a new global cross-industry association of companies from telecommunications and automotive industries, which is aimed to push forward the development of connected and automated driving and the creation of intelligent transport systems.
Vodafone has become a Platinum member of the 5GAA and Luke Ibbetson, Vodafone’s Group Head of Research & Development and Technology Strategy, will join the Board of the Association.
“The communication between vehicles, infrastructure and pedestrians using C-V2X will be fundamental to the creation of intelligent transport systems. The technology that the 5GAA develops can lead to major improvements in driving and road safety,” Ibbetson said.
This announcement comes on the heels of that on the fact that the telecom operator started testing 5G benefits for vehicles and after the launch last Summer of Vodafone Automotive, a suite of services for connected cars.
Alliance established latest 27th September
The 5GAA was established on 27th September 2016 and its founding members are AUDI AG, BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ericsson, Huawei, Intel, Nokia and Qualcomm Incorporated.
5GAA activities will be organized along five working groups developing various aspects of the end-to-end ecosystem: use cases and technical requirements; system architecture and solution development; business models and go-to-market strategies; evaluation testbeds and pilots; and standards, policy, certification and regulatory aspects.
Dino Flore, Director General of the 5GAA, added: “Vodafone’s industry leadership and cellular network operator’s perspective is an important addition to the 5GAA, and it will significantly contribute to the successful development of the connected mobility ecosystem.”
Vodafone Automotive and the 5G test
Vodafone has started trialling vehicle-to-vehicle communications LTE-V2X -means connecting vehicles (V) to everything (X)- in the UK and is planning further trials in Germany. LTE-V2X enables cars to chat with each other to improve road safety and efficiency.
Vodafone believes that achieving communication between vehicles and infrastructure is a central part of a ITS (intelligent transport system) and an important step that will lead to full automation of cars after 2020.
To tell about just some examples, a car which is part of the ITS and able to communicate with other vehicles and infrastructure will be able to tell other cars of its intention to change lane or to signal an emergency stop. The vehicle could also be told the optimal speed to drive in order to avoid traffic congestion.
On its side, Vodafone Automotive provides a suite of new services based on smartphone apps and IOT technology, such as: My connected car app; Vodafone VehicleDefence; or Vodafone UBI (insurance services and costs based on the drivers behavior patterns)
Vodafone Automotive already operates 10 service centers around the world, located in Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, ROK, Spain, Switzerland, and UK. They all employ 900 people.
Vodafone Automotive is active in 44 European countries and provides stolen cars location services automotive manufacturers, such as Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Ducati, Ferrari, GruppoPiaggio, Infiniti, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, Mercedes Benz Trucks, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Rolls Royce, Tesla and Volkswagen.
Image over the headline.- Images and logo, © Vodafone. Composition, Eastwind.
