Connected cars offering services as driver assistance and navigation are already a part of our daily lives. The mobile connectivity in the car is often provided via an embedded SIM-card associated with a partner Mobile Network Operator (MNO). However, this solution ties the hands of Automotive Manufacturers (AM) due to high dependency on the partner MNO. In this paper, we focus on a promising way to overcome this dependency: becoming an automotive Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). In order to become an MVNO, the AM has to acquire a set of network components to gain control over the most important network functions. Based on in-depth LTE architecture analysis, we first identify the key LTE network functions and then propose respective automotive MVNO models. Moreover, we outline the current network technologies, e.g., Network Function Virtualization, that allow decoupling of the network functions from proprietary hardware. These technologies facilitate the MVNO implementation and operation as well as potentially reduce its cost.    «

Connected cars offering services as driver assistance and navigation are already a part of our daily lives. The mobile connectivity in the car is often provided via an embedded SIM-card associated with a partner Mobile Network Operator (MNO). However, this solution ties the hands of Automotive Manufacturers (AM) due to high dependency on the partner MNO. In this paper, we focus on a promising way to overcome this dependency: becoming an automotive Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). In orde...    »