The automotive sector has been embracing sophisticated tech and connectivity for quite some time now
But the relationship between the automotive and telco sectors is entering a new phase
The GSMA has forged a network API-fuelled partnership with the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium (AECC)
And as cars become ‘smarter’, a transition being accelerated by companies such as Qualcomm, so the need for reliable and secure connectivity will be increasingly important
A great deal has happened in the connected car sector since the likes of Audi and General Motors added 4G mobile connectivity to some of their models 10 years ago and now it feels like the relationship between telcos and the automotive sector is about to enter a new phase. This is being driven by developments in software-defined vehicles, the growing importance of standardised network APIs and automation, and broader industry collaboration signified by the forging of a new collaboration agreement between two key industry groups – the GSMA, which represents the world’s mobile operator community, and the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium (AECC), a cross-industry group that includes Toyota, Honda, Japanese telcos KDDI and NTT Group, and Ericsson amongst its members.
The AECC signalled the growing importance of industry-recognised network APIs to the connected car sector earlier this year when it announced it was collaborating with the Camara Project – an open-source initiative backed by the Linux Foundation and GSMA that is focused on telco API development and interoperability – to ensure “interoperability and compatibility across diverse connected vehicle platforms”, the partners noted in this announcement. “By establishing common standards and frameworks, the collaboration aims to unlock the full potential of connected vehicle services and accelerate the adoption of next-generation automotive technologies,” they added.
