Renault and Orange are collaborating on a research project to test the automotive uses of very-high-speed, 4G/LTE (Long Term Evolution) connectivity.
Tomorrow’s vehicles will be hyper-connected, enabling motorists to safely access their professional and personal digital worlds, wherever driving circumstances permit.
Under the partnership, Orange rolled out 4G in advance at Renault’s research and testing facilities. The aim is for both teams to test new uses made possible by very-high-speed mobile technology in real-life situations, ranging from virtual office and cloud gaming to video conferencing. An initial test is underway on the NEXT TWO prototype based on Renault ZOE and to be presented on the Renault stand at the LeWeb’13 Paris conference.
Rémi Bastien, Head of Engineering Innovation at Renault, said: “This partnership is an example of an effective working relationship between two very different worlds. We were able to benefit ahead of time from a high-speed LTE network and from Orange’s expertise, with an opportunity to take advantage of the network for our prototype of the connected vehicle of the future.”
Nathalie Leboucher, Head of the Smart Cities Program at Orange, said: “We are delighted to provide Renault with the unrivalled performance of our 4G network and thereby contribute to the development of new Web-mobility uses and services for vehicles of the future. Connected cars with communications services make travelling more efficient, and this is a major development priority in Orange’s strategy.”
Connected vehicles are already a reality. With Renault R-Link, Renault provides its customers with an integrated and connected multimedia touch tablet. Automotive research consultancy SBD rated R-Link the ‘best system’ over six other leading European OE infotainment and navigation systems. R-Link, available on most Renault range models, already features nearly 100 apps. Renault relies on the connectivity and know-how of Orange Business Services, which supplies the SIM M2M cards used in R-Link-equipped cars.