Vertical: Automotive
Application: Test V2X, safety, voice, video
Ecosystem: Verizon Business, Nokia, AWS, Smart Mobile Labs
Private Network: 5G
Luxury automaker Audi has partnered with telecommunications provider Verizon Business to construct a state-of-the-art private 5G network at Audi’s automotive test track in Neustadt, Germany. The goal is to simulate communications conditions from key global markets to aid Audi in developing and testing emerging vehicle technologies.
The dynamic multi-core network replicates Verizon’s public 5G network in the United States, local European networks, and the roaming network of Audi’s Asia-Pacific mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) partner. Volkswagen Group brands like Audi and Lamborghini can leverage the private 5G setup to test applications including vehicle-to-cloud communications, autonomous driving features, passenger entertainment and connectivity systems, and more.
Verizon Business assembled a roster of partners to enable Audi’s vision. The network uses Nokia’s 5G and LTE modular platform, AWS edge computing infrastructure, and real-time data transfer tools from Smart Mobile Labs. This blend of geographic flexibility and cutting-edge functionality gives Audi a leg up in bringing innovative offerings to market faster than competitors.
The automotive sector’s shift towards software-defined vehicles makes real-world testing facilities critical. Audi’s head of connectivity and AI called the private 5G track a “complete solution” that reduces development costs and time-to-market. Verizon said the track accounts for vehicles morphing into “rolling smartphones” packed with communication and computing tech needing robust connectivity.
“This is about much more than equipping a work site with a private network. This is about bringing network conditions from around the world to one test facility, allowing Audi to exceed the already-lofty demands of the mobility market looking years into the future,” said TJ Fox, senior vice-president of industrial internet of things and automotive at Verizon Business.
The adaptable private network foundation lets Audi simulate an array of use cases for voice, safety systems, vehicle-to-vehicle communications, infotainment, and more. With automakers racing to develop smart mobility tech, the private 5G test bed offers Audi a key competitive advantage.
