The number of 5G users worldwide skyrocketed from less than 200 million in 2019 to 660 million in 2021 – mainly driven by the advancements in connected and autonomous cars, which require the low-latency and high-throughput only offered by 5G technologies. All around the world, companies and organizations have witnessed incredible growth in 5G subscriptions, especially within the last year alone.

As a global leader in connected technologies and member of the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), HARMAN has been focused on leveraging 5G networks to develop the advanced, in-car solutions that are capable of bringing information into vehicles in real-time. As a result, our automotive team recently launched HARMAN Savari MECWAVE, an industry-first multi-access edge compute platform that enables automakers and mobile network operators to harness the combined power of 5G, V2X communications and Edge technologies to offer increased levels of insight, safety, and connectivity for drivers.

Earlier this year during the “Turning Connected and Safe Mobility into Reality” conference at Mobile World Congress 2022, HARMAN’s Senior Vice President of Connectivity, Ram Iyer took to the stage to share his thoughts on the 5G experiences HARMAN has already created. Speaking to the deep collaborations like our partnerships with 5GAA member companies, Ram shared how we are already extending these services into fully-equipped experiences that totally change the nature of mobility for drivers, passengers, and full communities:

During his keynote speech, Ram discussed how the “Smart City” of the future is already here, thanks to V2X capabilities that allow cars to “speak” to other vehicles, pedestrians, and even infrastructure to help avoid collisions, decrease traffic, make commutes simpler, and more. But, there’s still room to grow to create smarter, safer communities. Ram shared how 5G has the ability to propel autonomous driving beyond the stand-alone features that drivers already enjoy today, allowing cars to “see” around blind corners or react to traffic situations via 360-degree awareness of the traffic grid. 5G will also allow OEMs to gather critical data on driver habits to help create highly personalized driving experiences expertly tailored to driver and passenger preferences.

All of these benefits and more can be unlocked through the power of 5G, but not without overcoming some unique challenges. The full value of 5G can only be realized if every player – from mobile network operators to OEMs, infrastructure developers, and government regulators – work together to collaborate at scale. For 5G commercialization to succeed, said Ram there are a few key components that must be kept in mind:

  • Infrastructure is key: To ensure wide-scale adoption, we will need wide-scale availability. This means ensuring well-built and reliable infrastructure that will help bridge the latency gap between today’s networks and tomorrow’s 5G solutions.
  • Regulation is necessary to foster consumer trust: Regulation is an important step in driving consumer trust and respect for 5G-infused mobility services. Prioritizing standards, responsible practices, and pathways for adoption will help ensure smooth roll-outs.
  • Innovation will be driven by partnerships: Developing these new systems in silos will not push innovation forward and will only hinder progress. By committing to open, transparent communication among companies, we can all help deliver on the promise of the 5G experience.

At HARMAN, we believe that the promise that 5G holds for the automotive industry is ready to be realized. By making smart investments, forging strong cross-industry partnerships, and fostering trust with consumers, 2022 can be the year that 5G truly makes an impact on our communities around the world. For more details on the ways HARMAN is helping tap into the benefits of 5G, visit: https://www.harman.com/Automotive