Magenta Drive: T-Mobile Claims First 5G Connected Cars

T-Mobile has introduced Magenta Drive for BMW. The carrier says it is the first example of 5G connected cars in the United States.

The 5G service is now is available on the new 220 BMW iX and the BMW i4, which have advanced antenna designs to provide a more stable signal. The cost is $20 per month for unlimited 5G access for postpaid subscribers.

According to T-Mobile, the T-Mobile 5G network covers more than 96% of interstate highway miles in the United States. Overall, the network passes 310 million people across 1.8 million square miles.

Magenta Drive for BMW offers:

Vehicles are a hot area for service providers as mobile use grows and more entertainment and vocational activities are conducted on the road.

In February, Verizon Business and Audi of America announced an agreement for Verizon to provide 5G Ultra Wideband to the car manufacturer’s U.S. lineup. The companies anticipate that the service will be available on select models during the 2024 model year.

AT&T said last August that it will bring 5G connectivity to millions of vehicles beginning with the 2024 model year. It also will upgrade U.S.-owned Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles that have 4G LTE to 5G as it becomes more widely available.

Last September, 5G Americas released a report entitled “Vehicular Connectivity: C-V2X & 5G” that identified a broad range of connected car opportunities. These include cellular connectivity and multi-access edge (MEC) to support an intelligent transportation system that promises to make roads safer and more efficient. C-V2X is comprised of two standards — one that defines direct connectivity that doesn’t require cellular connectivity and one that does.