LG Innotek announces the development of the 2^nd generation 5G-V2X cellular module, supporting ultra-high speed 5G vehicle communication. It is a significantly improved module with long-distance data transmission based on Qualcomm’s chip and reception on V2X (Vehicle to Everything).

With the development of this new product, LG Innotek is now able to accelerate its entry to the self-driving car components market.  

Ultra-high Speed 5G Supported Communication

The 5G-V2X cellular module is a 5G mobile communication component supporting the data transmission and reception on V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle), V2P (vehicle-to-pedestrian) and V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure), and this technology, V2X. This is the reason why the 5G-V2X cellular module is considered as an essential element for safety in autonomous driving.

This part is mounted mostly in the vehicle communication device inside the car. Also, it is installed on the roof combined with a communication chip, memory and RF circuit into a module. Thus, it receives large amount of data required for driving from the base station near the vehicle.

The industry estimates an autonomous vehicle produces an average data of about 4TB on a daily basis. This capacity can download 8,000 films of a 90-min movie. When processing this enormous capacity of data, speed is the key.

For example, when the road is stuck due to an accident, this road condition should have been sent to the advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) for finding bypass immediately. But if data transmission is delayed, the possibility of a secondary accident from incoming cars that don’t have any information on this situation, is highly likely.

This explains why 5G technology is receiving the spotlight in the autonomous driving field where immediate response to the real-time changes in situation is needed.

Therefore, most experts are expecting that the paradigm of global automobile industry will shift from the cellular module based on 5G instead of LTE or 4G.

Four-fold Data Download Speed

In 2019, LG Innotek launched the first 1^st generation vehicle 5G cellular module. Meanwhile, in the newly developed module, the data download speed has quadrupled from 35 to 150Mbps.

LG Innotek made sophisticated improvements on the temperature control algorithm. This minimized the high frequency 5G signal loss due to direct sunlight and heat. As a result, 5G vehicle communication maintains high-quality even in high temperature of 194°F. Thanks to this increase in durability, the long distance V2X communication supports up to 0.62~0.93 mile through the 5G network.

In addition, LG Innotek’s 2^nd generation 5G-V2X cellular module measures 46×50mm. This represents a reduction of 20% compared to the existing product. It is half size of a credit card, and can be mounted conveniently inside and outside cars.

While reducing the module size, LG Innotek utilized its unique high-density, high-precision technologies to gather 800 components for 5G communication into one product. Among the components include communication chip and memory and others. The 1^st generation module included about 480 parts. Thus, the number of parts mounted in the 2^nd generation module increased 60%, showing the improvement of quality and performance in the communication.

Moreover, the latest 5G standard (3GPP Release 16) was adopted to enable the use of the module regardless of the nations, terrain, and types of cars. By strengthening the compatibility of the product, LG Innotek secured more favorable position in attracting customers for the self-driving vehicle components.

Creating Differentiated Consumer Value

To bring the 2^nd generation 5G-V2X cellular module to the market by 2025, LG Innotek is performing various promotional activities in Korea. Moreover, the company promotes it to global automobile companies and automotive electronics makers in Europe, USA and Japan.

Byaeng-kuk Yoo, Vice President of Automotive Components & Electronics Business Unit, said “Second generation 5G-V2X cellular module will become a key component in opening the period of fully autonomous driving.”

“As the ‘total solution provider on future vehicles’, LG Innotek will continue to introduce innovative products on electronic components for the future cars to create differentiated value for the customer”.

Meanwhile, according to the market survey agency Techno System Research (TSR), the number of cars mounted with 5G communication module worldwide is expected to increase from 1.7 million this year to 21.8 million by 2027.