5GAA: Cellular Technology is Key Enabler for Smart Mobility of the Future

Industry association calls on European Commission to allow stakeholders to work collaboratively towards an agreement on the technology catalyzing the mobility of the future and warns against a "premature and cumbersome" legislative decision

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) encourages the automotive, technology, and telecommunications industries and the European Commission to be ambitious when evaluating technologies for connected, autonomous vehicles. 5GAA is confident that cellular communication technology (C-V2X) has the most benefits when applied to connected, self-driving cars. It has provided its views to the Commission in a workshop and a letter with recommendations. Since its launch one year ago, over 50 industry leaders from the automotive, technology and telecommunications industries have teamed up in 5GAA to accelerate C-V2X technology development and its evolution to 5G-V2X for enhanced safety, automated driving and connected mobility.

Christoph Voigt, Chairman of 5GAA said, "5GAA is confident that cellular technology (including direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication at 5.9 GHz) has the potential to lead to the best outcomes in the long run. We are strongly relying on the European institutional support to put in place a regulatory framework allowing for an industry-driven and swift deployment of this technology. It is crucial to consider how the 5.9 GHz band, the "life blood" of wireless vehicle communication, can be used efficiently in the context of 5G technology evolution, road safety, and economic scalability. The automotive and transportation sectors, both public and private, are making significant investment commitments. Therefore, we are urging the European Commission to allow the ITS-G5 and C-V2X stakeholders to work together towards an agreement on the future of connected and automated cars, without a premature and cumbersome legislative decision."

5GAA has recently provided its views to the Commission in a workshop and a letter with recommendations.

Christoph Voigt: "We should aim high enough when selecting the solutions to make connected, self-driving vehicles a reality. These are a catalyst to improving the quality of life globally through safer traffic, improved mobility, cleaner air in cities, and a better experience overall for drivers."

Dino Flore, Director General of 5GAA adds, "Saving lives through improved road safety is obviously the primary positive outcome of deploying communication technology solutions. In addition, we should take into account other aspects when evaluating alternatives. We're not only talking about reducing congestion and pollution but also optimizing the driving experience. It is our view that cellular technology, including direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication at 5.9 GHz, has the most upward potential in the long run."

Helping vehicles "understand the environment they are navigating"

Launched in September 2016 by 8 founding members the 5GAA has in less than a year grown to include over 50 leaders from the automotive, technology and telecom industries who collaborate cross-industry on the future of transport. 5GAA's mission is to develop, test, and promote communications solutions, initiate their standardization and accelerate their commercial availability and global market penetration. The objective is to address society's connected mobility and road safety needs with applications such as autonomous driving, ubiquitous access to services and integration into smart city and intelligent transportation.

Connected vehicles use communication technology to not only communicate with other vehicles but also with road infrastructure, other road users such as pedestrians, and the Internet - e.g. to provide traffic updates and parking guidance. Use cases include collision warnings, "traffic jam ahead" warnings, green light optimal speed advisory, parking guidance, and assisting drivers in tackling treacherous traffic situations (e.g. turning left at a crossroads). Connected vehicles will eventually reduce pollution, and make traffic more efficient, reducing congestion in cities and improving the flow of goods and people.

Christoph Voigt explains, "Equipping cars with sensors and cameras is one thing, but imagine what is possible when cars use cellular technology to communicate with their entire ecosystem: other vehicles, road users, infrastructure, and central services that give real-time information."

"It's the difference between a car that is capable of seeing what is happening in its immediate surroundings and one that can use all available information to allow for a safer and more comfortable driving experience. After all, as drivers we do more than purely react to what's in front of us. We listen to traffic info, we are aware of the area we're navigating, and we are alert to traffic jams in rush hour. We use context to guide our driving."

"This is exactly what cellular connectivity can enable vehicles to make easier, or even take over from us in the case of self-driving vehicles. Except that it will be faster and more accurate," concludes Christoph Voigt.