- World’s first 5G remote driving concept showcases 5G’s reliability, high speed and low latency – key elements for remotely-driven cars
- Driver in remote location gets “in car” experience thanks to 4K video streams and sensors transmitting from the car to the seat, and haptic control/feedback on the steering wheel
- Revolutionary demo developed by Telefonica, Ericsson, the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and Applus Idiada
As part of their collaboration for 5G research, Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and Telefónica, in partnership with KTH and Idiada, showcase the potential of 5G networks to transform industries, such as automotive. The demo uses Telefonica’s trial 5G network to drive a car at Idiada’s race track in Tarragona, Spain, from remote locations at Fira (Telefonica and Ericsson’s booths).
With some 30 5G research agreements around the world, Ericsson and its partners are focusing their collaboration on finding and developing real use cases for industries. Ericsson expects that by 2026 there will be a USD 582 billion market opportunity globally as telecom operators leverage 5G technology for industry digitalization. For operators, this represents a potential to add 34 percent growth in revenues in 2026.
One of the most advanced applications of so-called “haptic communications” (also known as “tactile Internet”) is the ability to control machines, including vehicles, by means of wireless connections. In order to cope with the technical challenges behind it, Telefónica and Ericsson have jointly demonstrated the ability of 5G to provide a completely different experience, based on immersive perception of reality rather than the more traditional connectivity concept.
The demo leverages on high-frequency spectrum (at 15 GHz), with ultra-narrow beams continuously tracking the cars from a 5G base station, located at 70 km in Applus Idiada track race, to ensure reliability, and ultra-low latency transport network to connect the cars at with Fira. Several 4K videos provide fully-detailed sensory perception to the remote driver.
This demo shows the potential of 5G to unlock new and exciting opportunities from markets such as the automotive sector which, if properly addressed, can revolutionize traffic control in many ways.
Enrique Blanco, Telefonica’s Global CTO, has underlined that "5G delivers the next level of experience and brings the ability to deliver services faster and more flexibly, customized for specific applications. The 5G demo that we bring to MWC with these excellent partners goes more beyond excellent connectivity and advances the new possibilities that 5G features provide.”
Jose Antonio López, Head of Ericsson in Iberia, says: “Partnerships will be key for the success of 5G. Ericsson has launched world’s first 5G platform and we have signed 5G collaboration agreements with 30 operators, 20 industry partners and 45 universities and institutes around the world. We are glad to partner with Telefónica to, once again, be ahead of the game and bring an end to end 5G Experience to MWC 2017.”
This demonstration, available at both Telefonica’s and Ericsson’s stands in MWC 2017, is the first application of its kind and has been developed with leading technology from participating partners: 5G network built by Ericsson and operated by Telefonica, sensors and haptic system developed by KTH and the testing capabilities from Idiada.
Ericsson at Mobile World Congress 2017
Anything can happen on the digital frontier, a promising but undiscovered future. From February 27 to March 2 in Barcelona, Spain, Ericsson is demonstrating a collaborative approach and innovative solutions to succeed in this arena.
With our customers and partners, we work across industries, physical boundaries and perceived limitations. Join us in Hall 2 or online during MWC 2017 and engage in conversations and demonstrations about our favorite things: 5G; platforms and services for IT, Cloud, Networks, and TV & Media; connected solutions for industries; the Internet of Things; and partnering for success.
See you there!
Notes to editors
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Ericsson is a world leader in communications technology and services with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Our organization consists of more than 111,000 experts who provide customers in 180 countries with innovative solutions and services. Together we are building a more connected future where anyone and any industry is empowered to reach their full potential. Net sales in 2016 were SEK 222.6 billion (USD 24.5 billion). The Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on NASDAQ in New York. Read more on www.ericsson.com.
Ericsson has been present in Latin America since 1896, when the company established an agreement in Colombia and delivered equipment for the first time in the region. In the early 1900s, Ericsson increased its presence in Latin America by signing commercial deals in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. Today, Ericsson is present in 56 countries within South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, which combined count the region as one of the few with complete Ericsson installations, including a Production Unit, R&D Center and Training Center. Ericsson is the market leading telecom supplier, with over 40% market share in Latin America and more than 100 telecom service contracts in the region.
