LG Innotek said on the 20th it will supply a "vehicle Wi-Fi 7 communication module" applying cutting-edge Wi-Fi (WiFi) technology to a major European auto parts corporations.
The order is worth about 100 billion won. Initial mass production of the product will begin in 2027. LG Innotek's "vehicle Wi-Fi 7 communication module" will be embedded in AVN (Audio·Video·Navigation) produced by a German automotive electronics customer and ultimately supplied to global automakers. LG Innotek has built competitiveness since entering the vehicle wireless communication technology market in 2005.
LG Innotek's "vehicle Wi-Fi 7 communication module" supports an ultra-wide 320 MHz bandwidth per channel—double the width of Wi-Fi 6E (6th-generation extended). As a result, data transmission speeds are more than three times faster.
The product applies 4K-QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) technology. QAM refers to a technology that converts digital data into analog signals for wireless transmission. The higher the QAM value, the more data can be sent at once. Wi-Fi 7 supports 4096 (4K) QAM, four times higher than before. Thanks to this, LG Innotek's "vehicle Wi-Fi 7 communication module" can process 20% more data per signal transmission than existing products.
LG Innotek used multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology to equip the "vehicle Wi-Fi 7 communication module" with two antennas. The company said, "It can capture all signals that might be missed," and noted, "Even when many devices in the vehicle connect and send and receive large volumes of data, users can enjoy uninterrupted, ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi."
LG Innotek's "vehicle Wi-Fi 7 communication module" incorporates about 150 components, including Qualcomm's communication chip, RF circuits, and antennas. The module is about one-sixth the size of a credit card. Reflecting the preferences of automaker customers for component platformization, it was released in the same size as existing products to allow compatible application.
The product maintains durability in extreme external temperatures from minus 40℃ to 105℃. It does not easily deform, even under heat generated during large-content transfers or after prolonged exposure to low temperatures when parked outside in midwinter. That is because it was developed to withstand repeated contraction and expansion by increasing the surface area of circuit joints.
Starting with this order, LG Innotek is promoting the "vehicle Wi-Fi 7 communication module" to automaker customers in Europe and Japan. In addition to the "vehicle Wi-Fi 7 communication module," LG Innotek is pursuing a strategy to expand its global market share by fronting vehicle connectivity solutions such as the "5G-V2X communication module," "5G-NAD communication module," and "vehicle AP module."
LG Innotek President Moon Hyuk-soo said, "In particular, as sales of vehicle AP modules begin in earnest from the fourth quarter of this year, mobility solutions sales are expected to accelerate, growing 20% annually for the time being," adding, "LG Innotek will continue to lead the market by unveiling innovative solutions that deliver differentiated driving experiences."