LG Innotek said on April 20 it will supply an in-vehicle WiFi 7 communications module to a major European parts company. The order is worth about 100 billion won, and mass production will begin from 2027. The product will be embedded in AVN (audio, video and navigation) units produced by a German automotive electronics parts company and ultimately delivered to global automakers. With the contract, LG Innotek will broaden its position in the vehicle connectivity market.

The WiFi 7 communications module supports 320 MHz ultra-wideband, doubling the bandwidth per channel compared with existing WiFi 6E. Data transmission speed is more than three times faster than before. The product applies 4,096 (4K)-QAM technology, increasing the amount of data that can be processed per signal transmission by 20 percent compared with the existing level. QAM is a technology that converts digital data into analog signals and transmits them wirelessly, and a higher QAM value allows more data to be sent per unit of transmission.

Another feature is that it uses multiple-antenna (MIMO) technology and is equipped with 2 antennas. This reduces signal loss that can occur with a single-antenna configuration and maintains uninterrupted connections even in environments where multiple devices in a vehicle simultaneously send and receive large volumes of data. The module includes about 150 components, including Qualcomm communications chips, RF circuits and antennas, and is about one-sixth the size of a credit card. It will be released in the same size as existing products to ensure compatibility.

In terms of durability, it is designed to operate in extreme temperatures ranging from minus 40 degrees Celsius to 105 degrees Celsius. It expanded the surface area of circuit joints so they can withstand repeated contraction and expansion. LG Innotek has accumulated in-vehicle wireless communications technology since 2005, and it is strengthening promotions to European and Japanese automaker customers on the back of the latest order.

LG Innotek plans to expand the application of its WiFi 7 module from AVN to RSE (rear-seat entertainment), TCU (vehicle communications equipment) and DCU (integrated control system). It is also accelerating efforts to expand global market share by putting forward its lineup of vehicle connectivity solutions, including a "5G-V2X communications module", a "5G-NAD communications module" and an "in-vehicle AP module".

Chief Executive Moon Hyuk-soo (문혁수) said, "Mobility solution revenue is expected to grow at an annual average of 20 percent for the time being, accelerating growth, with sales of in-vehicle AP modules starting to be generated in earnest from the fourth quarter this year." He said, "We will continue to lead the market by consistently introducing innovative solutions that provide differentiated driving experiences."