New industry group plans 5G solutions for connected automated driving market
European car makers join hands with telecoms and semiconductor firms to help step up development of 5G standards
Huawei Technologies, the world’s largest supplier of telecommunications equipment, has teamed up with rivals Ericsson and Nokia in a new alliance that aims to help accelerate the creation of 5G mobile standards and support the growth of connected automated driving around the world.
The three companies, which are among the leaders in 5G research and development, on Tuesday joined major European car makers BMW, Audi and Daimler, as well as US semiconductor technology giants Intel and Qualcomm to form the “5G Automotive Association”.
In a joint media announcement from Munich, where BMW is headquartered, the association members said their goal was to address society’s mobility and road safety needs, with applications such as connected automated driving, while ensuring ubiquitous access to services, and integration into smart cities and intelligent transportation.
“The creation of this association demonstrates the clear need for cross sector collaboration,” said Li Yingtao, the president of Huawei’s innovation engine called 2012 Labs. “It will facilitate global regulation, certification and standardisation efforts for autonomous driving and future car services based on 5G technologies.”
Alfons Pfaller, the head of infotainment development at Audi, added that connected cars “will shape the future of individual mobility, and next generation mobile networks will take car-to-x connectivity to a new level”.