Verizon, KDDI, and BMW Group have announced a partnership that puts Verizon’s 5G Standalone network at the center of BMW’s connected vehicle experience in the United States. Starting with newly manufactured BMW and MINI vehicles built for the American market, Verizon becomes the primary US connectivity provider powering everything from BMW ConnectedDrive and remote vehicle functions to digital infotainment, diagnostics, and over-the-air software updates.
The technology choice here is worth paying attention to. Verizon is deploying 5G Standalone rather than the hybrid 5G networks that still lean on 4G LTE infrastructure underneath. 5G SA uses a dedicated 5G core built on newer 3GPP Release 16 standards, which enables more advanced network management and opens the door for automotive applications that standard 5G connectivity couldn’t reliably support. BMW vehicles will be among the first to run on Verizon’s 5G SA connected vehicle platform.
KDDI, the Japanese telecommunications company, sits in the middle of this as the connectivity manager. Its Global Communications Platform handles how vehicle data moves between the car and BMW’s cloud services, giving BMW centralized control over connectivity across its global operations while Verizon handles the actual US network layer.
For BMW drivers in the US, the practical benefits show up across the ownership experience rather than in a single headline feature. Remote vehicle controls through BMW apps, real-time diagnostics, navigation services, and cloud-connected entertainment all depend on a reliable always-on connection. Faster and more consistent 5G SA connectivity also makes over-the-air software updates more dependable and increasingly important as cars become software platforms that need regular updates just like smartphones.
The connected vehicle space is becoming a serious battleground for telecom providers, and Verizon is making a clear statement with this deal.
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