The benefits of 5G are immediately available and answer many of the challenges previously unsolvable with prior service capabilities. Lower latency is a critical feature in many functions of connected cars, which are loaded with high-speed onboard processors. But a CPU is only as good as its connection. And since the advent of telematics, cars have been held back by their connection. Similarly, another advantage to T-Mobile 5G is the power of the signal to punch through barriers and greatly reduce traditional “dead zones” such as parking structure basements or even hilly terrain.

It is well -understood that 5G enables a massive increase in data throughput, which accrues to the benefit of the end user and to the automaker and is easily marketed. But more exciting to the engineers is the network slicing property of 5G allowing the car’s CPUs to simultaneously divide bandwidth within the car to serve different functions, all of which may have different levels of priority. Think of it as the priority of the driver or of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) to access high-resolution maps versus the priority of the kids in the second row to access video games and the priority of the V2X system to send traffic data to a processing center. With 5G network slicing protocols, these disparate needs do not have to slow each other down by sharing the same solitary pipeline – safety and infotainment won’t be on a collision course with each other. Among the enablers to future autonomous driving cars with zero or near-zero human oversight/input, 5G’s role may be as vital as lidar, radar and camera technology.

Mobile edge compute (MEC) is another exciting opportunity for connected cars. By providing purpose-built mobile switching offices customized for latency-sensitive mission critical applications, a mobile network carrier like T-Mobile can leverage the cloud for high latency use cases like mobility as a service, infotainment, and high-definition maps.

While the future awaits, 5G will dramatically change for the better many of the connected car features car buyers today have come to expect and car owners unfortunately have become frustrated with. Features that use data outside the car will take a giant leap forward in user-friendliness and reliability including remote start, smart phone keys, navigation and voice recognition.

The ability for the OEM to collect data that can serve to improve the product immediately and over time cannot be overstated. 5G allows near real-time driveability and failure data to enable an agile continuous improvement cycle. Realtime traffic and commute analysis can serve to improve the entire automotive ecosystem by massive sharing of commute times, routes, road safety and more. Smart traffic light systems in cities capturing V2X traffic data and responding with light timing can eliminate gridlock and vastly reduce emissions.

While data collection is important to the OEM, there are few things more important than improved customer satisfaction that results from features that delight the consumer.

T-Mobile – already equipped with a robust 4G LTE network that connects 99% of Americans -- has the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network. But more importantly for car makers is that T-Mobile invested specifically in owning and building out the strongest part of the 5G spectrum understanding the needs of the automotive industry. This 600 MHz low band is the powerhouse of the spectrum. It enables signal reliability and the much-needed reduction in dead zones allowing carmakers to count on signal strength in places where it could not be accessed before.

T-Mobile’s 5G investment included, but looked beyond the traditional needs of phone users, and the company invested in becoming the leading provider for connected cars. T-Mobile’s strategy is in -place, and its network is stable, robust, and designed for the long haul.

Call 833-784-1609 to learn more about how T-Mobile for Business is making connected vehicle solutions possible.