With 5G set to become an intrinsic part of the CAV ecosystem, various telecom providers are positioning themselves to be the network of choice when it comes to infrastructure projects. In its latest move, Vodafone is to install a mobile 4G and 5G network at Horiba MIRA’s headquarters and test track in Nuneaton, UK. The operator says this will expand the facilities capabilities to further support autonomous driving, including the development of cybersecurity assets, both for automotive and UGV applications for defence.
MIRA notes that Vodafone’s 5G technology has the potential to greatly improve the performance and capability of connected and driverless vehicles. By communicating with other vehicles, they can react faster to fast-evolving emergency situations, form co-operative groups of vehicles for more efficient delivery of goods, and even improve air quality through better route planning and more efficient operation.
Chris Reeves, head of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies at MIRA, commented, “We’re delighted to be partnering with Vodafone in bringing 5G to our Nuneaton headquarters. As the self-driving industry transitions from developing standalone autonomous vehicles, to delivering self-driving vehicles that can communicate with each other and the surrounding infrastructure, having access to Vodafone’s 5G technology is a huge boost for the sector as a whole. It will enable us to work and collaborate with the industry’s biggest players to ensure their technologies are safe, robust, convenient and efficient to hit our roads in the near future.”