Japanese telecoms group SoftBank claims to have tested non-standalone 5G with connected cars.
Nokia, the kit partner for the tests, called it a “world-first trial”. The setup used 3GPP Release 15 compliant radio equipment running commercial-level 256QAM high-order modulation and 4×4 multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) spatial multiplexing.
Softbank tested a number of use cases at a Honda research and development site in Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan. These included transmitting data to the vehicles about surrounding vehicles at intersections with poor visibility, identifying and notifying vehicles about falling objects on the road, and transmitting high-quality 4K video and images from in-vehicle cameras.
John Harrington, head of Nokia in Japan, remarked: “These trials demonstrate 5G technology can be successfully, safely and efficiently utilized in the connected car market. We look forward to further developing research in this exciting space and bringing 5G-connected mobility solutions to the roads.”
Nokia said the connected car market will be worth $225 billion by 2025. It suggested 5G will be the key connectivity technology for vehicles to communicate and interact on road networks. “Deploying high-bandwidth and low-latency 5G networks is essential for delivering the benefits of the next generation of road vehicles, whether they are connected or fully autonomous,” it said.
