HUAWEI Technologies yesterday launched what it said was the world’s first 5G communications hardware for the automotive industry, in a sign of its growing capacity to become a key supplier to the sector for self-driving technology.

Huawei said in a statement that the so-called MH5000 module is based on the Balong 5000 5G chip which it launched in January. “Based on this chip, Huawei has developed the world’s first 5G car module with high speed and high quality,” it said.

It launched the module at the Shanghai auto show.

It said the module will aid its plans to start commercializing 5G network technology for the automotive sector in the second half of this year.

Huawei has in recent years been testing technology for intelligent connected cars in cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuxi and has signed cooperation deals with carmakers including FAW, Dongfeng and Changan.(SD-Agencies)