C-V2X technology large-scale implementation schedule released! Will be launched in three phases

For years, wireless engineers, automakers, and governments have been working on developing C-V2X (cellular vehicle-to-everything) communication technology to enable future self-driving cars to communicate with each other and with traffic networks. Now, according to foreign media reports, the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) has announced a roadmap for large-scale deployment of C-V2X communication technology, which includes a timetable for the implementation of C-V2X technology in the next decade.

Image source: 5GAA

Based on the current 5G technology release speed of the cellular network industry standards organization 3GPP, the global 5G technology deployment and the status of the automotive communication technology supply chain, 5GAA expects that the implementation of C-V2X technology will be divided into three stages.

Image source: 5GAA

From 2020 to 2023, automakers will rely primarily on 4G LTE-V2X technology to implement basic safety features such as left-turn assist and emergency electronic brake light functions to improve traffic efficiency. In addition, such safety features will complement local road hazard and traffic information already shared via cellular networks.

There are two 5G phases, which can be divided into "first step" and "second step". First, in the first step, 5GAA expects that from 2024, autonomous driving technology based on 5G technology will be introduced "on a large scale", and such technology will rely on communication between vehicles and infrastructure. For example, 5G-V2X technology can be used to realize automatic parking in parking lots ( Bosch has already tested car-to-private infrastructure use cases in Germany and the United States); then, 5G-V2X technology will be used in "more complex environments and scenarios" including public roads, and remote control driving will also become possible.

The second step will start in 2026, when 5GAA expects all autonomous vehicles to be equipped with 5G-V2X technology, allowing vehicles to share high-precision sensor data and work together. At this stage, some of C-V2X's most widely anticipated autonomous driving features, such as the ability for cars to share their intentions with each other and the traffic network, and to achieve real-time collaborative perception combined with video or depth information, will be in the trial stage. In addition, pilot projects for dynamic intersection management and collaborative traffic flow in cities and highways may not be implemented until 2029.

Image source: 5GAA

5GAA expects 3GPP to continue to develop 5G standards, upgrading from the current Release 16 to Release 18 in 2023. As communication technology operators continue to build 5G infrastructure, industry support and industry specifications for 5G-V2X technology will also be strengthened. However, at present, 5G networks are not yet sufficient to independently support automotive communication technologies around the world, and technical and legal feasibility must also be considered.

5GAA pointed out that the allocation of wireless spectrum for vehicles is crucial for the deployment of 5G-V2X technology. The ideal frequency band for international use is 5.9GHz, as well as low-frequency bands for rural driving and mid-frequency bands for urban environments. The organization expects that in order to ensure basic safety, direct 4G communication technology requires 10MHz to 20MHz of frequency bands, while advanced 5G driving requires another 40MHz or more of frequency bands.

It is worth noting that many countries, including China and the United States, have already allocated the 5.9GHz frequency band for 5G automotive communication technology, and industry members within 5GAA have also begun to participate. However, although the timetable has been announced, 5GAA pointed out that the specific launch time still needs to depend on the new regulatory framework and the investment in digital twins of roads and cars. Therefore, it may take longer than expected, even in relatively developed countries.