Qualcomm is pushing to put 5G in cars with the second-generation Snapdragon auto system

BARCELONA—Qualcomm has big ambitions for the connected car market. With the potential to bring mobile services to the tens of millions of new cars sold annually, the company announced its Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 system at Mobile World Congress. The new system has 50% more processing power and is 40% more energy efficient than the first generation system, which Qualcomm says will lead to faster and more reliable connectivity in cars around the world.

The Gen 2 5G system joins Qualcomm’s newly upgraded Snapdragon digital chassis(Opens in a new window). It’s an advanced modem that supports up to 200 MHz of network capacity to ensure cars stay connected with a low-latency signal. The ultimate goal is to enable a range of in-car safety, entertainment and productivity experiences. Yes, we’re basically talking about streaming your favorite content to your car.

The new modem is more powerful, with a quad-core CPU. It’s more secure with greater support for connected emergency services and even remote connections beyond the reach of typical cellular networks. It’s cheaper, because more functions can be run directly on the modem, thus reducing component costs. It’s better for navigation, thanks to improved location accuracy, safety alerts and self-driving features. And it’s business-friendly, with support for telematics, cloud car services and all-in-one car connectivity.

What remains to be seen is exactly what kinds of features automakers will enable. Qualcomm provides the connectivity, but it will be up to the automakers to determine what drivers need to do when they’re behind the wheel.

Qualcomm says the Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 system is showing now and should be commercially available by the end of 2023. It will likely be 2024 before cars ship with the new connectivity platform.