To strengthen its ADAS test capabilities, Magna has joined NorthStar, a 5G innovation initiative for industry set up by telecommunications providers Telia Sweden and Ericsson. Telia and Ericsson have built a private 5G network at Magna’s automotive test track in Vårgårda, Sweden, where new cutting-edge ADAS solutions in vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity are being trialled. Leveraging the 26GHz frequency band and 400MHz bandwidth, the 5G network is crucial for real-time data transfer from vehicle sensors.
Through becoming a partner of NorthStar, Magna gains access to 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) technology, enabling low-latency gigabit speeds and seamless connectivity for ADAS analysis projects. Additionally, the use of mmWave technology enables ongoing research into joint sensing and communication systems.
“By utilizing the latest advancements in mobile networks, we are able to accelerate the automotive domain by offering sensor enhancements and as a result offer more capable and competitive ADAS products,” said Bill Snider, president of Magna Electronics. “Our focus is not only on meeting challenging technical requirements, but also on developing products that can help anticipate critical situations to prevent accidents, ultimately making the roads safer for all.”
NorthStar’s 5G network is powered by Ericsson dual-mode 5G Core, which connects to Telia’s existing public 5G network. This interconnectivity will enable Magna to benefit from high-speed connectivity across large geographical areas.
“As an industry leader in ADAS technologies, Magna is exactly the kind of company we envisioned joining us when we started the NorthStar program,” said Magnus Leonhardt, head of innovation and strategy at Telia Sweden’s enterprise business unit. “The solutions they develop are based on the premise that vehicles and road users can share data in near real time. To achieve that requires ultra-fast and reliable connectivity that you can trust, and that is precisely what 5G has been developed for. This is a great opportunity to really push the boundaries of 5G and the millimeter wave technology.”
Nora Wahby, head of Northern and Central Europe at Ericsson, said, “We are thrilled to have Magna joining NorthStar and to continue to put the power of 5G in the hands of global leaders within the automotive industry. Ericsson’s 5G mmWave technology enables a broad set of use cases with its low latency and very high speeds that will be key for new time-sensitive safety applications.”