The first 5G car module with satellite support lets vehicles send and receive data quickly, even in remote places without regular mobile network coverage.
LG Innotek has announced the world’s first third-generation automotive 5G communication module with satellite support. The company claims that the module enables vehicles to send and receive large volumes of data at high speeds—even in remote or infrastructure-damaged areas—by using 5G broadband over non-terrestrial networks (NR-NTN) with a 30MHz bandwidth.
The module delivers data rates in the tens of megabits per second, significantly faster than earlier satellite-based modules limited to narrowband (NB-NTN) channels of about 0.2MHz. Latency is also drastically reduced—from several seconds to just a few hundred milliseconds—making real-time communication possible for data-heavy services like video, voice, and telemetry.
This upgrade is critical for supporting software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and autonomous driving systems. With continuous satellite connectivity, vehicles can maintain communication even when out of range of ground-based networks. This ensures that emergency alerts, vehicle status updates, and navigation data can be transmitted instantly during critical situations such as natural disasters or accidents.
The module enables live updates to autonomous driving algorithms and access to accurate positioning data, further enhancing the performance and safety of self-driving systems. It complies with 3GPP Release 17, the first global 5G standard to include satellite-based communication, allowing broad compatibility across regions and vehicle platforms.
Designed to work with both cellular base stations and satellites, the module builds on LG Innotek’s two decades of experience in vehicular communication technologies. The company previously launched the first- and second-generation 5G vehicle modules and continues to expand its automotive components portfolio.
Byaeng kuk Yoo, head (senior vice president) of LG Innotek’s Automotive Components Business Unit, said, “The vehicular communication module is a core business that will drive LG Innotek’s automotive components segment, alongside automotive lighting. We are committed to developing vehicular communication modules into approximately more than 800 million U.S. dollars business by continuously introducing innovative components that deliver differentiated value to our customers.”
