Audi has announced today that the new, 2011 Audi A8 and its long wheelbase version, the Audi A8L, will now be available with a broadband Internet connection. The Audi A8 broadband Internet connection will be provided via LTE mobile communications technology, developed in collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent. Audi says that their new A8's broadband Internet connection is able to transfer information faster than 3G-technology and modern DSL connections.
The new broadband Internet connection has been presented in an Audi A8L prototype and will soon go into production cars too. The LTE standard, employed by the Audi A8 broadband Internet connection is considered to be an evolution of the 3G transmission technology.
Here are some numbers to help you put your mind around the LTE: Audi A8's broadband Internet connection can reach data transfer rates of up to 100 Mbit per second (the 3G is maxed out at 14,4 Mbit per second).
The company says it was able to transmit high-definition videos live through the new Audi A8 broadband Internet connection.
Audi Press Release:
Audi A8 with broadband Internet connection
Audi presents the A8 with new LTE mobile communications technology
Michael Dick, Audi Board Member for Technical Development: “We’re getting automotive LTE technology ready for series production”
Audi unveils an A8 wired for broadband with LTE technology. Developed in collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent, the car’s mobile broadband connection can transfer data faster than conventional 3G-technology and modern DSL connections.
During the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, announced that LTE technology would be used in cars by early 2011. Just three months later, Audi and its development partner, Alcatel-Lucent, present a fully functional prototype. The Audi A8 L with LTE technology contains the mobile communications technology of the future: LTE is considered the successor to the current 3G transmission technology, which also includes the UMTS mobile communications standard. LTE offers very high data transfer rates that can reach up to 100 Mbit per second. In comparison, a fast 3G connection offers about 14,4 Mbit per second.
With its short transfer rates, LTE mobile communications allow significantly faster access to Internet content and allow large amounts of data to be exchanged. For demonstration the technicians used the LTE connection for transmitting high-definition videos live to the vehicle.
“ We will use LTE technology to extend our advantage in automotive networking and further consolidate the Audi connect strategy,” says Michael Dick, Audi Board Member for Technical Development, during the presentation of the prototype.
