Absolutely agree with your second point. If only marketing had gotten the memo ...
Regarding your question, self driving cars have to interact with their environment. Receiving a message that indicates there is a vehicule of x,y coordinates may be better than trying to figure it out on your own using sensors. Getting the message in a timely fashion is essential, otherwise it is practically useless. 5G could be the communication channel for the message to transit, given that 5G aims to achieve lower latencies that 4G.
> Receiving a message that indicates there is a vehicule of x,y coordinates may be better than trying to figure it out on your own using sensors.
True, but that only requires the ability to communicate directly with cars near you. That's 100% doable with even 20th century technology. Something like 5G is not necessary for this at all.
1. It is not my field, but in general, self driving cars should be connected to a central entity that manages them. For more information search for "C-V2X".
2. NO wireless service provides GUARANTEED anything. To anyone. That's not how physics works