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Driving change in the automotive sector with connected-car technology

How partnering with Rogers helped Cubic Telecom provide connectivity to the Canadian automotive industry 

Car dashboard

“With over 75 billion devices expected to be connected by 2025, Cubic is at the forefront of connecting people and the objects around them.” 
James Dennis, Chief Technology Officer 
Cubic Telecom

Based in Dublin, Ireland, Cubic Telecom is a global connectivity management software provider for the automotive and Internet of Things (IoT) industries. “With over 75 billion devices expected to be connected by 2025, Cubic is at the forefront of connecting people and the objects around them,” says James Dennis, Chief Technology Officer at Cubic.

In the fall of 2019, Rogers announced a partnership with Cubic to provide a connected-car solution for Canadians, enabling drivers and passengers to experience navigation, real-time route mapping and instant streaming of music and videos in their cars across Canada and the United States.

“Rogers is now a key partner for Cubic Telecom, especially as we launch our automotive connectivity solution to the Canadian market”, says James. “This important partnership integrates Cubic Telecom’s PACE (Platform for Application and Connectivity Enablement) platform and connected car solutions with the Rogers mobile network, enabling a high-quality connected car experience for drivers throughout Canada.”

“As a leader in IoT, Rogers can support seamless connectivity for any auto manufacturer hosted on Cubic Telecom’s PACE platform.”

Rogers provides connectivity to 97% of Canadians through LTE-advanced networks and multi-path fibre network technologies, but this isn’t the only thing that inspired the partnership. “As a leader in IoT, Rogers can support seamless connectivity for any auto manufacturer hosted on Cubic Telecom’s PACE platform,” notes James. “Additionally, PACE integrates with multiple original equipment manufacturer (OEM) IT systems and mobile operator platforms to provide car users with access to always-on connected services and streaming content.”

Joint leadership is another aspect that paved the way for the partnership. “Rogers is a fellow leader in advancing eSIM technologies,” says James. “Through continuous collaboration we are now delivering a fully compliant global eSIM SKU to customers using cellular connectivity via our PACE Platform.” As a result, device and vehicle manufacturers can enjoy significantly lower manufacturing and IT costs, simplified logistics and compliance with local regulations in the markets they operate.

Rogers has also progressed its technical capabilities in eUICC (GSMA specification) in collaboration with Cubic. “Their innovative approach to adopting this attracted us to work with the team there.”

Together, the partnership is creating a bright future for connected technology and the possibilities for connected cars and their operators. In recent years, there has been significant progress toward enabling technologies that provide a foundation for the arrival of connected, autonomous, shared and electric driving platforms.

Naturally, connectivity is essential to these technologies and will be even more critical for the future of driving, especially with the rollout of 5G. “We at Cubic are looking forward to supporting our operator partners in implementing 5G, as well as complying with future GSMA standards in remote-SIM provisioning,” say James. “The sheer volume of data being generated within the automotive ecosystem will not only improve road safety, traffic management and efficiency, but will also drive new revenue streams for OEMs and transform how consumers engage with their vehicles.”

But Cubic Telecom is not about to rest on its laurels. “Ongoing improvements for Cubic include powering connectivity for upgraded telematics solutions with several leading car brands,” says James. For example, in certain models, drivers can now enjoy a hi-resolution touch and voice-controlled display screen, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The future of connectivity in the automotive sector is exciting, to say the least, and full of possibility. Undoubtably, the partnership between Cubic Telecom and Rogers is a major development in the propulsion of innovation and business enablement in Canada’s auto industry.