The connected city

Mobility in the city of Ingolstadt – Audi’s head quarters north of Munich –  is set to undergo a remarkable leap into the future with the development of an extensive digital transport infrastructure using 5G technology.

Thanks to a pioneering 5G technology partnership between Audi, the city of Ingolstadt and German Telekon, the goal is to use the new 5G technology to make urban mobility safer, more digital and more sustainable. 

In real terms, the creation of a 5G model region will lead to better and safer traffic flow for all road users, thanks to the future 5G cellular network standard, which will allow significantly higher bandwidths and virtually real-time network responses. The 5G technology is essential for communication between different road users, automated driving and connections to the Internet of Things (IoT).
One possible 5G application is connected traffic signals at road junctions that exchange anonymised movement data with cars and other road users via the 5G network. This will enable drivers or cars themselves to react more quickly to unforeseen movements. Mobile 5G devices of pedestrians and cyclists can also be integrated into real-time communication between infrastructure and cars, so that all road users can be connected as comprehensively as possible. 

The use of 5G can reduce the time spent searching for parking spaces, which is a significant proportion of increased traffic volumes in cities. Free parking spaces will be communicated to drivers as real-time information so that they can navigate directly to them.

With this fully connected city, myriad other industrial companies will be avail themselves of the incoming 5G infrastructure meaning the benefits will flow to all manner of other areas on top of the mobility sector.

“As a technology location, Ingolstadt is open to and welcoming to innovations. Together with companies and scientists, we are prepared to co-operate here in the testing and development of applications. Because if new technologies promise an advantage, we should also use them for the benefit of people. We see co-operation on the ‘Ingolstadt Test Field’ as a contribution towards securing qualified jobs in our city and as a demonstration of our efforts as a location for digital mobility. As with all innovations, however, the population must also be involved in 5G and actively informed about the technology and related projects,” says Dr. Christian Lösel, Mayor of Ingolstadt. 

For Audi, the announcement of the joint venture is part of the brand’s ongoing research and development into mobility for the future, with studies to date showing the positive effects of autonomous vehicle for example, on the traffic flow and safety in cities of the future. 

Audi’s Car-to-X technology has already proved to be tremendously successful in not only greater traffic flow but in changing the attitudes of drivers by supplying information on red lights ahead and the time to the next green.

The advent of extensive 5G coverage will only assist in establishing and growing these and other technologies through its wide bandwidth and the subsequent speed. 

“Consistently connected – that’s our goal along the way to the mobility of tomorrow. On the basis of 5G technology, Audi as an automobile manufacturer can contribute towards improving mobility in cities. Together, we are developing integrated solutions for the city of the future,” says Peter Steiner, Managing Director of Audi Electronics Venture GmbH. 

“As a technology leader, Deutsche Telekom is supporting the city of Ingolstadt and Audi with the implementation of their innovative ideas. We are bringing 5G not only to the people of Germany, but also to the country’s industry. In the future, innovation and 5G will be inseparable. We are therefore delighted to be working with Audi and the city of Ingolstadt,” says Martin Knauer, Head of Cellular Sales for Business Customers at Telekom Deutschland. 

An exciting digital future is now just around the corner for the city of Ingolstadt with the 5G field testing to start in 2020 – from there, the sky is potentially the limit.