Following the rollout of 5G’s network last month, O2 will allow car manufacturers, self-driving technology companies, start-ups, and public organisations to road test driverless vehicles in London.
The vehicles are being tested by Smart Mobility Living Lab and are working from Greenwich and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.
5G speeds will provide the ability to connect with more devices at once at a lower latency.
O2 research has predicted that a 5G road management system could reduce the time motorists spend stuck in traffic by 10%, save the economy £880 million a year, and reduce CO2 emissions by 370,000 metric tonnes per year
O2’s chief technology officer Brendan O’Reilly said: “At O2 we’re determined to help businesses of all sizes access the potential of 5G mobile technology.
“We know that by powering the transport sector we can make a real difference to consumers by reducing traffic congestion, making journeys safer and faster.
“We’re excited to be working with the teams at the Smart Mobility Living Lab, who are driving forward our understanding how this next-generation technology will fundamentally change the fabric of the cities in which we live and work as well as creating entirely new ways to travel.”
