5G will make automobiles smarter, but will it jeopardies data privacy? Concerns and opportunities.

There is now a lot of buzz in India about the launch of 5th generation mobile network (5G) connectivity. There is a lot of current activity, from Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw successfully testing a 5G call in Indian Institute Of Technology–Madras (IIT Madras) in May 2022 to the planned sale of the 5G spectrum, including airwaves, in June 2022. However, 5G technology is intended to make our cars smarter, more immersive, more interesting, in addition to improving smartphone connectivity and data rates.

For some years, manufacturers in the European, American, and Japanese industries have been developing 5G capable technologies for automobiles. As a result, India will benefit from the most recent 5G enabled technology, not just in terms of technology but also of the lessons learned by An Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in other global markets. In general, 5G will aid the automotive sector in optimising car manufacturing, Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), vehicle telematics, autonomous driving technologies, and an immersive cockpit experience.

In terms of practical use cases that 5G-enabled automobiles can provide to their consumers, it is just not immediate connectivity. However, broadband-like experiences in transportation, such as immersive Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, Head-Up Displays (HUD), and more consumable material within the vehicle at higher data rates, are basically the tech that we can anticipate 5G to deliver to our automobiles. Uday Dodla, Qualcomm Senior Director of Business Development, told in an exclusive interview.

The rising presence of 5G in the Indian automotive sector would also pave the way for the creation of linked manufacturing services. Services such as automatic parking in autonomous cars to help move vehicles inside manufacturing zones remotely, for example, would streamline operations. A private 5G network for a manufacturing plant will also aid in the development of custom connectivity solutions for any location. Automakers will also be able to anticipate and resolve future faults, as well as provide customers with Over The Air (OTA) software upgrades. Models like the recently released Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft i4 Electric Vehicle (BMW i4 EV) already support OTA.

Then there's the telematics data, which OEMs will have more access to as the number of 5G-enabled vehicles grows. This information may be utilised to track performance and deliver predictive maintenance updates that benefit both consumers and OEMs. Increased data points might also provide alternative income streams and creative services for a more personalised driving experience for each motorist.

This increased data gathering would also aid in the development of machine learning algorithms for Autonomous Driving in India. As India's smart ecosystem and digital infrastructure develop, these algorithms will use the acquired data to make self-driving vehicles safer on Indian roads. Qualcomm's C-V2X chipset, for example, equips automobiles with a suite of short-range radio technologies. This enables a vehicle to communicate with its surroundings, including other cars, smart infrastructure, people, and cloud services. The overarching concept appears to be constructive prediction, which makes our driving experience more automated and safe. With on-board solutions like the Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit platform operating behind the scenes, our vehicles are becoming smarter.

Dodla, when asked if future 5G-savvy purchasers will base their selection on a vehicle's operating software, said, "Imagine over a billion Android users in India harnessing the same experience inside their vehicles." Whether it's video/music streaming, gaming, or anything else. As a result, Android Operating System (OS) will undoubtedly remain popular in automobiles in the future. Some users may be unconcerned about the operating system in comparison to the facility. For these, a few Linux-based applications may be used, but Android OS will be the primary operating system.

So, although 5G will undoubtedly make our automobiles smarter and safer, as previously noted, it will also open up various data collecting sites. Data will be transmitted between your vehicle, the OEM, and nearby data sharing stations in order to improve the in-cabin experience and entertainment. This takes us to the issue of privacy. We already live in an era where cellphones have become a key source of worry for personal data privacy. Data privacy awareness is growing, and people today want to know where their data is being shared and how much of it is being shared. So, how would OEMs or platforms like Qualcomm ensure that their customer's data is safe and not misused?

According to Dodla, data may be categorized under two sorts of pockets: User data and Vehicle data. User data contains information on driver/passenger usage, individualized information on what material we consume, how we drive, where we travel, and other things. This results in extremely individually identifiable data. Then there's vehicle data, which identifies details about the car. Things like engine health, sensor data, and so forth. These are less interested with the driver/passenger and more concerned with the vehicle and its current situation. I feel that managing both of these categories of data must be distinct. Personal identifying information should be handled with caution, and there should be privacy.

India does have a data privacy legislation, and all OEMs and platforms, including ours, are aware of its requirements, and we will do all possible to ensure compliance.

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