The suitcases and presents are stowed away in the trunk. And on Christmas Eve you can finally hit the road to visit family or go on your winter vacation. Fast Internet in the car keeps the passengers entertained and creates a jolly atmosphere. In autonomous vehicles, even the drivers will soon be able to watch videos.

Thanks to WiFi hotspots and smart applications in the car, the passengers in particular can sit back and relax during the Christmas road trip. More and more models offer fast Internet and entertainment services thanks to integrated or retrofittable hotspots. That way no one is bored during the journey. With HotSpot Drive from Deutsche Telekom, up to 10 mobile devices can be connected and films, series and music streamed from the Internet without passengers having to use up their data volume. Users surf the Telekom network via the hotspot, without having to install additional SIM cards or routers. The antenna for the hotspot is located outside the vehicle, which ensures high connection quality. And, there’s also low radiation in the car’s interior during Internet surfing.

Data-hungry apps on the smartphone or tablet can be used thanks to a fast Internet connection via the Telekom hotspot. For example, maps that provide current traffic forecasts and determine the fastest route. Or smart parking apps such as Park and Joy, which display available parking spaces in the area.

HOW AUTONOMOUS WILL OUR DRIVING BE IN 10 YEARS?

While the passengers can surf the Internet during the journey, the driver still has to concentrate fully on the road. At least for now. However, with autonomous vehicles this could all change in a few years. Looking ahead to Christmas 2029: How do you expect to get to your family or holiday destination on Christmas Eve in the future? According to a survey by Aral on the current trends in car purchasing, 20 percent of participants believe that autonomous vehicles will be on the market in Germany in 10 years. In these cars it won’t just be the passengers but also the driver who will get to sit back and relax during the journey.

These kinds of scenarios have been tested on a section of the A9 motorway in Bavaria since 2015. There, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) operates a digital test field for autonomous driving. Technologies linked to the Internet of Things (IoT) and seamless mobile coverage will be used, initially with LTE (4G) and soon with the new 5G mobile standard.

FEWER CONSTRUCTION SITES, LESS CONGESTION

The authorities are testing intelligent road infrastructures on this stretch of motorway, including networked IoT sensors located in the asphalt, as well as in crash barriers and bridge pillars. They are detecting and evaluating the condition of these structures, using the new NarrowBand IoT (NB-IoT) mobile communications standard, which ensures low costs and a long service life for the devices. This is because the radio modules can last up to 10 years with a standard battery. If the concrete crumbles or steel beams corrode – the sensors sound the alarm. This enables motorway operators to detect damage earlier than before and repair it more quickly. Large construction sites can be avoided. The result: fewer construction sites, less congestion.

HOW NETWORKING WORKS IN THE SMART CITY

The federal and state governments aren’t only operating digital test fields for autonomous driving and intelligent traffic infrastructures on motorways, but also in cities, currently in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Munich. The transmission of sensor data in smart cities also works via mobile communications, the Internet of Things, NarrowBand IoT and corresponding software. NB-IoT also transmits the data from remote corners into which mobile communications can otherwise only penetrate with difficulty. This includes the basements of multi-storey car parks, underground stations and basements.