Connected cars could lose digital features as 4G networks face shutdown
By Areeb Khan
Millions of connected cars could lose access to remote functions, OTA updates and real-time services as telecom operators begin phasing out LTE networks from 2030. With vehicles lasting 15-20 years, outdated connectivity hardware could become a major challenge for automakers and owners.
Aaj ke modern cars mein connectivity ki baat karein so inke kaafi saare functions ek aisi cheez par depand karte hai jisko owner khud control nahi kar sakta, and that is the mobile network. Omdia ne ab isi risk ko highlight kiya hai, warning dete hue that future mein LTE technology, jis par 4G to some extent depend karta hai, agar shut down kar di jaati hai so aise vehicles bhi connectivity lose kar sakte hai jinki useful life abhi many years tak hai. Means car mechanically or technically road par chalne ke liye fit ho sakti hai, but network technology ke phase out hone ki wajah se uske connected features work karna band kar sakte hai. Is tarah ki situation pehle bhi dekhne ko mil chuki hai. Automotive industry already older technologies ko phase out karne ke consequence face kar rahi hai, or Motor.es ne explain kiya hai ki 2G or 3G networks shutdown hone ki wajah se location tracking, remote unlocking or pre-conditioning jaise features bhi eliminate ho sakte hai. But yahan difference yeh hai ki LTE technology abb modern cars mein kaafi deeply integrated ho chuki hai, jiski wajah se isko phase out karna manufacturers ke liye or bhi complicated ho sakta hai. By 2035, there will be over 1 billion connected cars Connected vehicles ki baat karein so Omdia ke forecasts ke according, 2035 tak globally connected vehicles ka base 1.05 billion se bhi zyada ho jayega. 2025 mein yeh figure 473.7 million tha, which means ki next ek decade mein connected vehicles ki total number double se bhi zyada ho jayegi, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.3%. Problem tab arise hoti hai jab 2 different technologies ko compare kiya jaata hai jo completely different speeds par work karti hai. Ek car 15 ya 20 years tak roads par chalti reh sakti hai, but other side network periodically old network ko retire karte rehte hai so that new technologies ke liye spectrum or resources free kiye jaa sakein. LTE connectivity ki baat karein so Omdia warn karta hai that some operators 2030 se LTE networks ko dismantle karna start kar denge. Although globally iske koi single fixed timeline nahi hai and every country will have its own schedule, but iska impact un vehicles par dekha jaa sakta hai jinke modems LTE technology par depend karte hai. Especially un vehicles ke liye problem ho sakti hai jahan hardware upgrade karne ka koi viable option available nahi hai, which means ki network shutdown hone ke baad in vehicles ke connected features par impact pad sakta hai. Cars that are still operating flawlessly have previously experienced this Iska ek concrete example Nissan ke case mein dekha jaa sakta hai, jahan company ko older Leaf or e-NV200 models ke liye NissanConnect EV services shutdown karni padi thi because in cars ke communication units 2G network par based the. However, yahan important fact yeh hai ki services shutdown hone ke instead cars ko normally drive kiya jaa sakta tha. LTE ke saath baat karein so yahan par problem ka scope kaafi zyada ho sakta hai. Omdia ke according, electric vehicles ke liye dynamic routing, over-the-air updates or real-time safety services jaise features bhi iske under aate hai. Other than this,advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) se related features bhi dekhe jaa sakte hai, jaha connectivity ka role more important ho jaata hai. So that means yeh nahi ki 4G disappear hone ke baad car start hona hi band ho jayegi. Yeh depend karega ki every model ko kis tarah design kiya gaya hai, kaunse functions ke liye permanent connectivity ki importance hoti hai, or manufacturer ne later technologies par migrate karne ke liye pehle se koi planning ki hai ya nahi.
Image source: Motor.es
An outdated modem may not always allow for software upfdates OTA updates ki baat karein so manufacturers abb inhe apni cars ko updated or relevant rakhne ke liye use kar rahe hai, but yahan par kuch physical limitations bhi dekhi jaa sakti hai. OTA updates ki help se car ke digital lifespan koseveral years tak extend kiya jaa sakta hai, allowing manufacturers to introduce new software features and improvements over time. But sirf new software version install karne se existing LTE modem automatically 5G-compatible nahi ban jaata hai, because yahan hardware ki limitation bhi matter karti hai. Software-defined cars ki baat karein so yahan par biggest challenge mein se ek yeh hai that the software can evolve much faster, but manufacturing ke time install kiye gaye kuch electronic components utni speed se update nahi ho paate hai. Europe mein already ek similar situation dekhi jaa chuki hai with automatic emergency calling systems. New NG eCall systems abb gradually un systems ko replace kar rahe hai jo older mobile networks par depend karte hai, so that jis infrastructure ki help se yeh safety function work karta hai, uske shutdown hone ke baad emergency calling system ineffective na ho jaaye. 5G is coming to slowly Omdia ki report ke according yahan par ek or important factor notice kiya jaa sakta hai, and that is the slow adoption of 5G technology in cars. Aaj bhi millions of vehicles mein LTE connectivity dekhi jaa sakti hai, whereas telecommunications industry abb is technology ko phase out karne ke future ke baare mein think karna start kar chuke hai. Solution ki baat karein so yahan par focus aisi cars ko design karne par hona chahiye jinki digital life bhi unki physical life jitni hi long ho. Iske liye multi-generation compatible modems, eSIMs or aise architectures diye jaa sakte hai jo components ko replace karne ki flexibility provide karein. Other than this terrestrial or satellite networks ke combination ko bhi use kiya jaa sakta hai, so that cars ko long term tak connected rakha jaaa sake. Car buyer ke liye yahan par ek important question raise hota hai, jiske baare mein kuch years pehle tak maybe kisi ne socha hoga. Ab sirf yeh janna enough nahi hai ki manufacturer kitne years tak software updates provide karega, rather yeh bhi equally important ho gaya hai ki car kitne time tak us network se connected reh payegi jo future mein bhi exist karta ho. Car ki lifespan ki baat karein so app notice kar payenge that a car can easily last for two decades, but the mobile network it uses important nahi ki utne longer time tak available rahe. News Source: Motor.es