LG Innotek develops world 1st 5G New Radio network module for cars

An LG Innotek employee promotes the company's 5G New Radio Non-Terrestrial Network communication module for vehicles in this handout photo released Wednesday. Courtesy of LG Innotek

LG Innotek has developed the world’s first 5G New Radio Non-Terrestrial Network (NR-NTN) communication module for vehicles. This key technology will enhance broadband networking for precise location data and autonomous driving, the company said Wednesday.

A 5G NTN module for vehicles is a component that transmits data with network infrastructure such as satellites and other nonground-based platforms via 5G connectivity. It is considered a key technology for enabling software-defined vehicles and autonomous driving.

Currently, most 5G NTN modules for vehicles are based on narrowband NTNs, which use high-altitude satellites to provide a broad coverage. However, their relatively low data transmission speeds make it difficult to handle large volumes of data, falling short of supporting the large-scale data demands required for advanced technologies like high-level autonomous driving.

LG Innotek said its 5G NR-NTN technology uses low Earth orbit satellites to enable broadband connectivity, enabling high-speed and large-volume data transmission. Compared to existing satellite-based 5G communication modules, it offers data transfer speeds hundreds of times faster while reducing latency to a few hundred milliseconds.

LG Innotek noted that the module will significantly advance carmakers’ efforts to apply next-generation vehicle technologies, including autonomous driving. Through satellite communication, precise location data can be transmitted and received anywhere, enabling real-time updates to autonomous driving algorithms and improving overall driving performance.

The company plans to begin mass production of the latest module in the first quarter of next year and use it as a spearhead for expanding its presence in the global vehicle communication module market. The company said it is now promoting the product to automakers in North America and Japan.

“Vehicle communication modules and automotive lighting will be the two main pillars of LG Innotek’s auto parts business,” an LG Innotek official said. “We will continue to introduce innovative components that deliver differentiated customer value and scale up the communication module segment into a trillion-won level business."

LG Innotek's 5G New Radio Non-Terrestrial Network communication module for vehicles / Courtesy of LG Innotek

The latest module is the third-generation 5G vehicle communication module. LG Innotek has released a number of industry-leading vehicle communication modules so far, including the world’s first first-generation 5G module for vehicles and the second-generation 5G vehicle-to-everything communication module.

LG Innotek said it succeeded in developing the third-generation module by leveraging vehicle communication technologies it has accumulated since 2005. The company holds advanced capabilities in designing radio frequency circuits with minimal signal interference, as well as high-efficiency antenna systems and software optimized for in-vehicle communication.

The number of vehicles equipped with 5G communication modules worldwide is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 43 percent, rising from 4 million in 2024 to 75 million by 2032.