LG Innotek (CEO Moon Hyuk-soo) has succeeded in developing a vehicle communication module that enables uninterrupted, high-speed communication anytime, anywhere, and is expected to play a significant role in expanding the autonomous driving and software-defined vehicle (SDV) markets.

LG Innotek announced on the 28th that it has successfully developed the world's first '3rd generation 5G communication module' for vehicles that supports 5G wideband (NR-NTN, a wide communication band of approximately 30MHz) satellite communication.

This new product is expected to significantly improve the large-capacity data processing performance compared to existing narrowband (NB-NTN)-based vehicle satellite communication modules, thereby contributing greatly to the advancement of autonomous driving functions and increased vehicle safety.

The 5G communication module for vehicles is a key component that exchanges data with base stations and satellites inside the vehicle, and plays an essential role in implementing software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and autonomous driving.

The data speed of existing vehicle satellite communication modules was limited to several hundred kbps due to the narrow communication band (approximately 0.2 MHz). Therefore, although simple data transmission such as text messages was possible, the difficulty in transmitting and receiving large amounts of data limited the implementation of advanced vehicle technology.

The '3rd generation 5G communication module' developed by LG Innotek supports 5G broadband (NR-NTN) satellite communications and provides data transmission speeds of several tens of Mbps, which are hundreds of times faster than existing ones.

In addition, data transmission delay time (latency) has been shortened from several seconds to hundreds of milliseconds, enabling real-time transmission and reception of driving data. This allows for real-time updates of autonomous driving algorithms and support for ultra-high-speed network connections between vehicles.

This new product can maintain communication via satellite even when ground base station connection is lost, ensuring a stable network environment when driving in remote areas such as deserts and mountainous regions, and can quickly transmit rescue request signals and vehicle status information in the event of a disaster or natural disaster.

Such features play an important role in protecting driver safety in emergency situations and are expected to further enhance the stability of autonomous vehicles.

The '3rd generation 5G communication module' adopted the latest 5G standard (Release 17) of the International Telecommunications Standardization Organization (3GPP).

Release 17 is the first international standard to expand 5G technology, which was previously centered on terrestrial networks, to satellite-based networks, and is expected to secure competitiveness in the global market by enabling application to various countries and vehicle models.

LG Innotek plans to begin mass production of its '3rd generation 5G communication module' by the first quarter of next year and accelerate its advance into the global market.

To this end, we are currently conducting product promotions targeting major automakers in North America and Japan.

Yoo Byung-guk, head of LG Innotek’s electrical components business division (executive director), said, “Vehicle communication modules are a core business that leads LG Innotek’s electrical components business along with vehicle lighting,” and added, “We will continue to develop differentiated technologies to grow the vehicle communication module business to the scale of the trillion-dollar unit.”