In a recent demonstration during a 5G Automotive Association event, Viasat demonstrated a satellite voice call fully integrated into the infotainment system of a BMW Group vehicle.
The demonstration in Munich, Germany, used Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 solution, and the Fraunhofer IIS NESC AI voice codec to compress the data in order to transmit in narrowband IoT, low data rate over Viasat’s mobile satellite service (MSS) network.
This builds off of a voice call demonstration earlier this year with Cubic³ eSIM capabilities. However, Viasat said this was the first time this technology was integrated into BMW Group’s in-vehicle infotainment platform. This integration allows voice calls to be initiated and managed directly through the vehicle interface.
Viasat is one of the satellite companies that has been working with 5GAA group for some time to incorporate non-terrestrial network (NTN) communications into the connected vehicle ecosystem.
“This demonstration reflects broader industry excitement to ensure consistent, resilient satellite capabilities for next-generation vehicles. By bringing standards-based NTN to vehicles, we can integrate satellite voice and messaging and ultimately enable a future where drivers can remain connected — wherever the journey takes them,” commented Sandeep Moorthy, senior vice president of Advanced Non-Terrestrial Solutions at Viasat.
More on the connected car market:
