Renault and Orange join forces to explore uses for 4G on future vehicles

The partnership provides Renault and Orange with a real-life testing framework for exploring new connectivity applications on vehicles using high-speed technologies.

Tomorrow’s vehicles will be hyper-connected. Everywhere, where driving circumstances permit, motorists will be able to access their professional and personal digital worlds from their vehicles in complete safety. To prepare for that future, Renault and Orange have joined forces as part of a research project on testing the automotive uses of very-high-speed, 4G/LTE (Long Term Evolution) connectivity.

Under the partnership, Orange has rolled out 4G in advance at Renault’s research and testing facilities. The aim is to enable both partners’ teams to test in real-life situations the uses enabled by very-high-speed mobile technology, ranging from virtual office and cloud gaming to video conferencing. An initial test is underway on the NEXT TWO prototype based on Renault ZOE and to be presented on the Renault stand at the upcoming Le Web’13 conference.

Commenting, Rémi Bastien , Head of Engineering Innovation at Renault, said: “ This partnership is an example of an effective working relationship between two very different worlds. We were able to benefit ahead of time from a high-speed LTE network and from Orange’s expertise, with an opportunity to take advantage of the network for our prototype of the connected vehicle of the future. ”

Nathalie Leboucher , Head of the Smart Cities Program at Orange, said: “ We are delighted to provide Renault with the unrivalled performance of our 4G network and thereby contribute to the development of new web-mobility uses and services for the vehicles of the future. Connected cars make travelling more efficient through communicating services and stand as a major development priority in Orange’s strategy ”.

Connected vehicles are already a reality. With R-Link, Renault brings its customers an integrated and connected touch tablet rated by the SBD firm as Europe’s user-friendliest multimedia system. R-Link, available on most Renault range models, already features nearly 100 apps. Connectivity-wise, the R-Link system relies on the know-how of Orange Business Services, which supplies all the SIM M2M cards used on board equipped Renault cars.

About Renault
The Renault group has been making cars since 1898. Today it is an international multi-brand group, selling more than 2.5 million vehicles in 118 countries in 2012 and employing nearly 128,000 people. To meet the major technological challenges of the future and continue its strategy of profitable growth, the Group is harnessing its international development and the complementary fit of its three brands, Renault, Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors, together with electric vehicles, the Alliance with Nissan, and its partnerships with AVTOVAZ and Daimler. With 12 world championship titles in 36 years, Renault’s expertise in Formula 1 is equally remarkable, as a vector of innovation, image and awareness.
Find out more at www.media.renault,com , www.renault.com and on Twitter: @Renault_live

About Orange
Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with sales of €43.5 billion in 2012 and had 166,000 employees worldwide at 30 September 2013, including 102,000 in France. Present in 32 countries, the Group had a total customer base of more than 232 million customers at 30 September 2013, including 175 million mobile customers and 15 million fixed broadband customers worldwide. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services.
Orange is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN).
For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com , www.orange-business.com and on Twitter : @orange, @orangegrouppr, @orangebusiness.
Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.

Press contacts:
Orange: Khadija Komara – +33 1 44 44 02 27 – khadija.komara@orange.com
Orange Business Services: Gwenaëlle Martin-Delfosse – +33 1 44 37 62 62 – gwenaelle.martindelfosse@orange.com