In a breakthrough trial, Nokia and SoftBank Corp have become first partnership in the world to have successfully completed tests demonstrating that non-standalone 5G technology can be used to commercially operate connected cars.
Using Nokia’s equipment from its end-to-end 5G portfolio, Japanese operator SoftBank installed non-standalone 5G networks suited to connected vehicle testing at a Honda Research and Development site in Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.
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.
Nokia’s ambition is to ensure that 5G technology can be fully utilised in the future connected car 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 utilised 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.”