While the
connected car concept is not new,
satellite technology has the potential
to significantly broaden the
possibilities for the next generation of
connected vehicles.
By Asher Faredi, Product Manager of Land
Data and Marwan Joudeh, Product Manager
for M2M and Product Lifecycle Management
at Thuraya
New developments in connected vehicles
have transformed the automotive industry
as we know it today. By enabling
connectivity for drivers on the move,
connected vehicles can help enhance
traffic safety, reduce travel time, as
well as improve fuel efficiency.
According to a report by GSMA, the
global connected vehicle market is
expected to grow threefold to reach an
estimated value of EUR39 billion in
20181. Consumer expectations for
connectivity in the car have evolved
beyond GPS route-mapping — and are
shifting towards high-speed internet
availability and the deployment of
smartphone integration systems.
At the same time, new developments in
the connected car market are on the rise
to meet the increased demand among car
owners for safety and security features.
For instance, it has been reported that
the United States is exploring a
regulatory framework to make
machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity
mandatory to achieve auto safety
improvements.
Driving change with satellite
communications
Satellite technology has the potential
to significantly broaden the
possibilities of connected vehicles, and
Thuraya is now working closely with car
manufacturers to take on the challenge
of extending M2M connectivity.
Currently, M2M depends mainly on GSM
networks, which can be limited in terms
of network coverage, especially for
vehicles that are required to cross
international borders or be deployed in
remote locations.
Backed by our congestion-free satellite
coverage, Thuraya is able to provide
solutions that address mission-critical
needs in rural and remote areas — such
as border patrol units that need
reliable coverage to transmit video
images back to their headquarters, or an
emergency response vehicle requiring
communications anywhere. The Thuraya IP
Voyager, our new vehicular satellite
terminal, is designed to connect at
broadband speeds of up to 444kbps while
on the move.
Beyond this, Thuraya is stepping up its
efforts to address customer requirements
for connectivity in the commercial
vehicle arena.
The challenge here is to source antennas
that are available at a cost that would
be viable for a commercial car. Existing
vehicle antennas are mounted on the
vehicle roof, which is feasible for the
non-commercial sector. But how many car
owners would want to have an antenna
mounted on the roof? Thuraya is seeking
opportunities to work with developers to
create flat panel antennas that are
aesthetically pleasing to customers and
are affordable.
Another key concern that needs to be
addressed is security. With recent
incidents such as NSA hacking making the
headlines, many car owners may still be
uncomfortable with the idea of opening
up their vehicles to mobile connectivity
in general. For connected cars to gain
commercial traction, satellite operators
and car manufacturers need to
collaborate closely to address these
security concerns. In the Middle East,
for instance, many governments closely
regulate vehicular telematics service
providers to provide the assurance that
user privacy is safeguarded.
An important advantage that satellite
operators have over GSM service
providers is their ability to provide an
affordable, uniform and optimized cost
for their connectivity, even across
international borders, as opposed to
expensive roaming charges under cellular
coverage. This helps facilitate new
business models for the car
manufacturers that are currently not
possible with cellular data, as well as
enables Thuraya to leverage its unique
position in being able to offer
satellite-enabled cellular roaming.
Towards a truly connected
vehicle
The growing demand for connected
vehicles promises massive business
potential for many sectors, from
satellite operators and product
developers to vehicle manufacturers. As
satellite technology plays a critical
role in enabling connectivity for
vehicles, Thuraya will continue to
develop and deliver innovations that
will drive the future of connected
vehicles.
