Company Demonstrates Satellite-Based Voice Communication from a Moving Vehicle, Pioneering the Future of Safe and Connected Mobility.
LG Electronics (LG), a mobility sector technology leader, showcased its cutting-edge Internet of Things – Non-Terrestrial Networks (IoT-NTN) technology at the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) conference in Paris, France, from May 12 to 15.
The highlight of the event was a live demonstration conducted throughout Paris, featuring a vehicle equipped with next-generation IoT-NTN-based Telematics Control Units (TCUs). This demonstration marked the first instance of uninterrupted, conversation-level voice communication while seamlessly switching between terrestrial (TN) and non-terrestrial (NTN) network environments.
IoT-NTN is an advanced communication network system that integrates satellite communication and high-altitude platform stations. This system ensures connectivity via satellite in areas unreachable by terrestrial networks (TN) such as 3G, 4G and 5G. It supports crucial applications like autonomous driving, vehicle tracking, remote control and emergency communication. The technology is particularly valuable in remote environments such as deserts, oceans and mountainous regions, or in disaster-stricken areas where terrestrial infrastructure is compromised, making it a vital component of future mobility aimed at enhancing driver safety.
To further advance this capability, LG has developed a next-generation solution that incorporates AI-powered voice compression technology into its IoT-NTN system. This innovation significantly reduces the size of voice messages, overcoming the data limitations that previously confined satellite communication to short emergency text messages, and expanding its capabilities to include voice transmission.
As a result, voice message transmission speeds are more than ten times faster. The technology goes beyond simple voice message exchange, enabling actual two-way conversations. In emergency situations, vehicle occupants can press a single emergency call button to send a voice-based distress signal and describe the situation without needing to type a text message or perform additional actions.
During the conference, LG set up both NTN and TN zones and conducted a live demonstration by driving a vehicle equipped with demo equipment on actual roads. Visitors experienced the system firsthand by sending voice messages from a TN area and receiving them in an NTN area, and vice versa, highlighting seamless network switching. To support this capability, LG developed a cloud-based service platform that extends vehicle satellite communication capabilities and connects them to TN, elevating the user experience enabled by IoT-NTN technology.
LG is leading the field of connected technologies that are critical to the transition toward software-defined vehicles, including telematics, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication and in-vehicle infotainment system connectivity. According to LG’s internal estimates based on data from market research firm Strategy Analytics, the company ranked No.1 in the global telematics market last year with a 24.4 percent share.
LG has been an active member of the 5GAA since its inception in 2016. The global cross-industry consortium was established to research and commercialize future mobility solutions such as autonomous and connected vehicles based on 5G technology. The association brings together more than 110 companies, including major automakers, automotive parts suppliers, telecom operators, and manufacturers of chipsets and network equipment.
“Our IoT-NTN technology represents a leap forward for seamless, reliable connectivity for vehicles in the most remote or challenging environments,” said Lee Sang-yong, head of VS R&D laboratory at the LG Vehicle Solution Company.
“By enabling real-time voice communication via satellite, we’re not only enhancing driver safety but also laying the groundwork for the next generation of connected mobility solutions.”
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