Harman Makes 5G Multiband Antenna

The age of the connected car has arrived and experts predict that the modern connected car is likely to need as many as 18 antennae to provide motorists with all relevant services. Harman has now developed a 5G-ready, multiband conformal antenna for cars. This innovative antenna can combine multiple antennae in one module which can be mounted underneath a vehicle’s body panels, giving car manufacturers more flexibility when it comes to vehicle design.

Commenting on the development, Vishnu Sundaram, Vice President, Telematics Business Unit, Harman Connected Car said that till now, car manufacturers have normally used a “shark fin” antenna in combination with a variety of other antennas which are distributed in different parts of the vehicle. With connected cars very much a reality now, this option is no longer viable for designers. The Harman team managed to come up with an antenna that is both stylish and compact by working with Samsung and several OEM partners

In addition to the WiFi, Bluetooth and radio connectivity that is available in most cases, Harman’s antenna can also incorporate Electronic Toll Collection, Vehicle to Infrastructure, and Remote Keyless Entry. The 5G connectivity that this antenna offers will transform the driving experience for both drivers and passengers as they would be able to personalize their experience by streaming content at unprecedented speed.

“We’re currently evaluating the antennas with several premium car makers to validate the design for each specific vehicle and expect to see the conformal antennas available for model year 2021 vehicles,” added Sundaram.

BI Intelligence has projected that, by 2020 there will be around 220 million connected cars on roads across the globe. This represents a significant increase from the 30 million connected cars that are in use currently.