How 5G Ultra Wideband can help fast-track self-driving cars (Source Verizon.com)

Autonomous vehicles will produce an estimated 30 terabytes of data daily, roughly the equivalent of 3,000 people’s data usage. It is estimated that this could potentially increase global wireless traffic 40 times over current levels. A connected car requires a network capable of transmitting these massive amounts of data at unprecedented speeds. Unacceptably high latency over the network could lead to a wrong turn, a missed signal or even a crash. It’s a clear use case for Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband. According to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Internet of Things Tracker service, more than 125 million connected passenger cars with embedded connectivity are forecast to be shipped during 2018-2022. Today, internet-connected cars rely on 4G LTE technology to stream music and engage other connected services, but 5G will usher in a step change not only for in-car connectivity, but for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. The implication is clear: Cars will not only “talk” with one another in near-real time, but also with sensors installed in streets and traffic lights, sharing information on roadways and weather conditions, and alerting drivers on the same stretch of highway to potential hazards. Connected vehicles will be able to crowdsource near-real-time routing information to avoid backups and streamline traffic flow. Next-generation networks should also lead to improvements in driver safety by helping mitigate the unknown—a truck, for example, sensing that its driver is about to run a red light and alerting other vehicles approaching the intersection of the hazard. The National Highway Safety Administration has concluded that the introduction of systems to prevent collisions at intersections alone could save 1,300 lives a year.