Nokia and SoftBank Completed the World-First 5G Connected Car Test

Using Nokia’s 5G portfolio, Japanese operator SoftBank installed non-standalone 5G networks suited to connected vehicle testing at a Honda Research and Development site in Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan. The test has succeeded in conducting a breakthrough, world-first trial that is the first step in deploying Nokia’s 3GPP Release 15 compliant using commercial-level 256QAM high-order modulation and 4x4 MIMO radio equipment network equipment.

As part of the trials, SoftBank tested four use cases, including the transmission of location information of surrounding vehicles at intersections with poor visibility, the identification and notification processes for falling objects on the road as well as and the transmission and secondary use of high-quality 4K video and images taken from the in-vehicle cameras. Deploying high-bandwidth and low-latency 5G networks is essential for delivering the benefits of the next generation of road vehicles, whether they are connected or fully autonomous.

“These trials demonstrate that 5G technology can be successfully, safely and efficiently utilized in the connected car market. We look forward to further develop research in this exciting space and bring 5G-connected mobility solutions to the roads,“ said John Harrington, Head of Nokia Japan. In 2019, SoftBank chose Nokia and Ericsson to supply 5G radio equipment, snubbing Huawei despite conducting tests with the Chinese vendor.