World-first 5G connected car test complete

In providing its end-to-end 5G portfolio to operator partner SoftBank, Nokia has become the first company in the world to successfully complete tests demonstrating that non-standalone 5G technology can be used to commercially operate connected cars.

Japanese operator SoftBank used state-of the-art equipment from Finnish company Nokia’s end-to-end 5G portfolio to install non-standalone 5G networks, perfectly suited to connected vehicle testing, at a Honda Research and Development site in Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.

This world-first trial is the first step in deploying Nokia’s 3GPP Release 15 compliant using commercial-level 256QAM high-order modulation and 4x4 MIMO radio equipment network equipment.  

5G automotive use cases

Part of the trials included SoftBank testing four use cases, including the transmission of location information of surrounding vehicles at intersections with poor visibility, the identification and notification processes for falling objects on the road as well as and the transmission and secondary use of high-quality 4K video and images taken from the in-vehicle cameras.

“Nokia believes 5G will be capable of delivering the speed and capacity required to ensure vehicles can communicate and interact safely and efficiently 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,” said the company in a press statement.

Nokia’s ambition is to ensure that 5G technology is fully utilised in the future connected car market – a market which is projected to reach over $225bn in value by 2025.

John Harrington, Head of Nokia Japan, said: “These trials demonstrate that 5G technology can be successfully, safely and efficiently utilized in the connected car market. We look forward to further develop research in this exciting space and bring 5G-connected mobility solutions to the roads.”