LG mass-produces 5G telematics system with up to 12 integrated antennas for European automakers

en.Wedoany.com Reported - LG Electronics (LG), a global leader in the telematics market, has begun mass production of its next-generation intelligent telematics solution based on 5G Release 16 (R16) and has delivered it to a European premium automaker, marking its first application in mass-produced vehicles in Europe. The solution integrates a communication module with up to 12 antennas into a single unit.

Conventional in-vehicle communication systems typically consist of two separate physical components: a telematics control unit and an external shark-fin antenna. As vehicle connectivity capabilities continue to expand, vehicles need to support multiple communication technologies such as multi-band Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), 5G, Wi-Fi, and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), leading to a continuous increase in the number of required antennas. 5G communication requires multiple antennas to ensure performance, and since a standard shark-fin antenna has limited capacity for accommodating antennas, automakers are often forced to install additional antennas at multiple points on the vehicle body, thereby increasing radio frequency (RF) cables, wiring complexity, overall vehicle weight, and total cost. These structural limitations are particularly pronounced in electric vehicles: weight directly affects driving range, and complex wiring architectures can impact production efficiency and cost competitiveness.

To address these issues, LG has integrated the communication module and multiple antennas into a single unit with an internal architecture capable of accommodating up to 12 antennas. The increased antenna capacity reduces reliance on externally mounted antennas and shortens RF cables, helping to enhance the vehicle's structural efficiency while maintaining robust connectivity performance. The solution employs a modular architecture that accommodates the configuration needs of different original equipment manufacturers (OEMs): the telematics board and antenna board can be combined or separated, making it suitable not only for new models but also for existing vehicle platforms.

On the software side, the solution integrates a scalable software platform built on LG's proprietary Automotive Telematics Platform (ATP). Developed and refined over more than a decade, this platform uses the same core software across supported applications, requiring only chipset-specific interface adjustments, thereby improving software reusability and development efficiency while enhancing stability and compatibility in global communication environments. LG's solution also supports multiple communication chipsets, reducing dependence on a single component and mitigating supply chain risks.

In terms of reliability, LG's intelligent telematics solution is designed for demanding high-temperature in-vehicle environments and has been validated through real-vehicle testing, confirming its ability to maintain stable data transmission and reception under extreme conditions. Communication performance and reliability depend not only on component specifications but also on factors closely related to heat dissipation, such as mechanical design, internal structure, and metal layout. LG's decades of experience in mobile communications have given it differentiated competitiveness in integrating hardware, mechanical, and antenna design.

This integrated solution transforms the vehicle communication architecture from a distributed antenna structure into an integrated communication platform. As positioned by LG, it will serve as core infrastructure for the software-defined vehicle (SDV) era, supporting over-the-air (OTA) updates, V2X, and autonomous driving data transmission. As vehicle connectivity continues to evolve, integrated telematics solutions are expected to play an increasingly important role in future vehicle architectures.

Eun Seok-hyun, President of LG Vehicle Solution Company, stated that this intelligent telematics solution goes beyond hardware integration to redefine the fundamental architecture of vehicle communication. Leveraging its accumulated expertise in communication technology and software, LG will continue to deliver integrated telematics solutions optimized for the SDV era.