LG Electronics has supplied a next-generation 5G telematics solution to a European automaker’s mass-production model for the first time. The solution integrates the communication module and up to 12 antennas into a single hardware unit to enhance data transmission reliability and response speed, representing a strategic move to prepare for the era of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and autonomous driving.
LG Electronics announced on the 19th that it has applied a smart telematics solution based on Release 16 (R16), the latest 5G communication standard, to a European automaker’s mass-production model for the first time. This marks the industry’s first application of an R16-based automotive telematics solution in a European production vehicle.
R16 is the second 5G communication standard that builds on the performance and stability of R15, which focused on 5G commercialization. It supports ultra-reliable, low-latency communication (URLLC), enhancing data transmission reliability while reducing latency. According to LG Electronics, the R16-based telematics achieves a data error rate of 0.001%, a 100-fold improvement over 4G, and data transmission latency between the telematics module and base station of 1 millisecond (ms), a five-fold reduction compared to 4G.
Telematics is a technology that connects vehicles to external communication networks to exchange various types of information. It is used for over-the-air (OTA) software updates, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication where vehicles exchange information in real time with other vehicles and road infrastructure, and high-capacity data transmission for autonomous driving systems. R16-based telematics enhances the communication stability and response speed of these functions. LG Electronics sees particularly high utility in autonomous driving environments where real-time data exchange with surrounding vehicles and road infrastructure is essential.
The hardware architecture has also been redesigned. Conventional automotive communication systems required separate installation of the telematics module and the shark-fin antenna protruding from the vehicle exterior. As vehicles began supporting more communication functions—including 5G, Wi-Fi, V2X, and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)—the number of antennas increased, and antennas that could not fit inside the shark-fin housing had to be placed separately throughout the vehicle.
With this new solution, LG Electronics has integrated the communication module and up to 12 antennas into a single hardware unit. This reduces signal loss occurring in the connection between the module and antennas while simplifying wiring structure and spatial layout. From the automaker’s perspective, it reduces the installation space and component count required inside the vehicle, lowering cost burdens. Eliminating the external shark-fin antenna also increases design freedom for vehicle exteriors. LG Electronics noted that the solution was engineered to maintain stable connectivity across diverse driving and communication environments, including high-temperature desert regions.
The communication performance of the next-generation telematics solution is also linked to LG αWare, the software solution LG Electronics is developing for SDVs and AI-defined vehicles (AIDVs). LG αWare comprises PlayWare, an in-vehicle entertainment solution; MetaWare, which delivers user experiences leveraging augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and AI; and VisionWare, an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) solution utilizing AI algorithms and camera sensors.
LG Electronics is expanding its SDV-related business centered on the automotive webOS content platform (ACP), in-cabin sensing that detects driver and passenger status, and telematics that collects and transmits various vehicle data. The company is also securing next-generation mobile communication technologies. In March, it joined the Global 6G Coalition to participate in 6G standards development and system verification.
According to estimates from market research firm TechInsights, LG Electronics holds the No. 1 global market share in automotive telematics. Eun Seok-hyun, president of LG Electronics’ Vehicle Solution (VS) Business Division, said, “We will continue to introduce innovative solutions in automotive communication, which has become a core mobility competency, to further solidify our telematics market leadership beyond SDVs and into the AIDV era.”