New Delhi: To drive safe and connected mobility, 5G technology- the fifth generation of wireless communication networks- could be a big gamechanger in the automotive landscape in India, believes Dr Reji Mathai, Director, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).
According to him, global connectivity penetration is around 30%, while for some countries like Japan it is as high as 90%. India’s connected services are going to grow by almost 4X.
“Digitalization and IoT are taking place in a faster way than what we are thinking about. Customers expect digital services in vehicles not because they are getting used to it but they see that it is safe, even though there is much more to be done in this space,” Dr Mathai said at the 4th edition of ETAuto Connected Vehicle Summit in New Delhi.
“5G is an enabler for safer, connected mobility and we are looking into it very seriously. We are assessing what features could be provided with 5G technology and looking into partnerships in this area,” he added.
ARAI is currently working to evaluate this and submit it to the government to make the right policies. “Startups are providing a supporting role in this interest.”
According to Mathai, while the Indian consumers have a big appetite for connectivity, there are bigger challenges with the move towards 5G. This includes cybersecurity, data security, data ownership, and skilled manpower.
“Infotainment is now coming up in a big way. The bigger challenge now is how a vehicle communicates with its surroundings,” he said.
“Skilled manpower is also a challenge, even if we get someone that person is taken away in a year,” he added.
, said at the 4th edition of ETAuto Connected Vehicle Summit in New Delhi.){kind=link}