24 August 2021 | Melanie Mingas
Orange Business Services (OBS) is to provide IoT mobile connectivity across Europe for cars by global mobility brand Lynk & Co.
The brand is a JV between Geely Holding, Geely Auto Group and Volvo Car Group. It has launched its “always connected” car, which uses IoT network and infrastructure to provide enhanced features, such as large configurable touch screens and telematics that are always connected to the internet and the car’s cloud.
Each car has a SIM – with a unified global footprint – integrated during the manufacturing process. In collaboration with Lynk and its project partners, each car will benefit from Orange’s IoT Managed Global Connectivity solution, which provides secure and seamless integration between connected car services, internet access and online tracking.
“We are proud to be part of this new generation of always-connected automotive experiences, aimed at making car travel safer, easier and more sustainable. Our innovative approach to connectivity enables consumer connected services like the Lynk & Co cars,” said Nemo Verbist, senior vice president, Europe, Orange Business Services.
Although the connectivity is provided by Orange users can roam between different providers as required.
David Green, CDO at Lynk & Co., said: “Today’s customers demand mobility and may not actually want to own a car. Orange Business Services IoT services and global connectivity are helping us achieve our vision of launching a mobility brand that is born digital and designed to demands of always-connected consumers.”
OBS itself last year joined forced with KDDI when it partnered with Toyota and Mazda to support the roll out of a connected cars service in Europe.
Last week AT&T confirmed it is to enable 5G connectivity in millions of General Motors’ vehicles in the US over the next decade, starting in select models from 2024. It is part of the companies’ strategy to launch the world’s largest fleet of 5G-enabled vehicles.