February 19, 2016
Connected car services have the potential to make driving safer and to reduce congestion and CO2 emissions. The MWC roundtable brings together the European automotive and telecoms sectors to give the EC their perspectives on key issues and solutions for connectivity.
On February 22, a roundtable on Connected and Automated Driving will be chaired by European Commissioner Oettinger at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. Telenor Connexion’s CEO, Mats Lundquist, has been invited by Commissioner Oettinger to join the roundtable, together with other members of ETNO, the European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association.
Connected driving provides opportunities for Europe to grow. By 2030 the global market is expected to see 44 million automated vehicles. This can create an outstanding economic and societal impact, reflected in job creation, safer roads, fuel-efficiency, decreased traffic congestion and overall increased productivity.
The MWC roundtable brings together the automotive and telecommunication/IT industry to discuss cooperation on digital aspects of connected and automated driving with a view to achieving a win-win for the industries and for Europe.
On the agenda are discussions about key issues and solutions for connectivity, policy issues (input for Commission policy and regulatory initiatives) as well as ideas for a proposal for a European project on connected and automated driving.
“Neither the automotive industry, nor the telecoms sector, nor Europe can afford to miss this digital opportunity,” European Commissioner Günter Oettinger wrote earlier in his EC blog.
“Connected car services are already available today and growing fast. Services such as in-vehicle emergency and diagnostic has become a standard for our customers. I look forward to fruitful discussions on how to promote further innovation and investments in connected car services within the EU, says Mats Lundquist, CEO at Telenor Connexion.
The invitation-only roundtable with Commissioner Oettinger on connected and automated driving is part of the Ministerial Programme and will take place on February 22 at 11.00-13.30 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Representatives from the following industry associations will attend the meeting: Acea and Clepa for the car industry; GSMA, Etno and Ecta for the telecoms industry.