5G in vehicles - What's the point?

High data rates - even on the road

Already the first 5G modems are supposed to enable a data rate of 5.5 Gbps downlink and 2.7 Gbps uplink - thus the data speed differences between stationary and mobile applications are evened out. So why surf in the living room when you have a heated seat in your car? Vehicle-to-ground applications also benefit greatly, e.g. camera applications are no longer slowed down by low uplink speeds.

Mission Critical Applications

In addition to higher frequencies and greater bandwidths, the Next Generation Core heralds a paradigm shift. LTE maps the Internet business model with "best effort" and "net neutrality". The new 5G core network (NGCN) and "end-to-end slices" will make it possible to deliver the short latencies and guaranteed services (QoS) required for real-time systems and functional security. This will enable Mission Critical applications to be controlled over 5G in real time, taking functional safety into account. Parallel over the same air interface, other lower priority data can be consumed.
For example, services for automated or autonomous driving as well as a map material download can take place simultaneously via the same modem of one central communication unit.

Challenges

The challenge for the user is to deal with the higher frequencies (3.5 GHz), which result in a significantly shorter range, and duplex mode also has its specific pitfalls. The biggest challenge, however, is 4x4 MIMO, as at least 4 transmitting and receiving antennas and their cables must be accommodated (4x4 MIMO). The network operators are also challenged with the comprehensive roll-out of the infrastructure and the implementation of the necessary core network.

5G in NetModule Routers

NetModule routers are modular and use standardized interfaces, which are also used for 5G modems. Therefore the step from LTE to 5G New Radio is given as soon as the corresponding modem hardware is available. A subsequent upgrade of routers already on the market is technically possible.