In a global premiere in May 2025, the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) demonstrated connected vehicles using non-terrestrial networks (NTN) complementing terrestrial 4G and 5G networks for emergency messaging. It also did the first on-the-road, live-traffic demonstration of 5G-V2X Direct technology capabilities for advanced connected-vehicle services and ready-to-deploy vehicle-to-network (V2N) technologies, which can improve road safety in real traffic conditions.

Missed the demos? No problem! Now you can see the replay of these advanced vehicle technologies! Watch the full video below to experience the demos in action!  

5GAA-member vehicle manufacturers BMW Group and Stellantis and technology partners Anritsu, Cubic³, Deutsche Telekom, HARMAN, Jember, LG Electronics, Qualcomm Technologies, MediaTek, Rohde & Schwarz, Rolling Wireless, Skylo, VEDECOM Institute, and Viasat participated in the NTN satellite connectivity demonstrations. The demos focused on realising hazard warning and emergency messaging use cases in the vehicle as well as illustrating how NTN will complement terrestrial 4G and 5G networks in the future.

Demonstrations on public roads underlined how NTN can support ubiquitous automotive connectivity for connected services with seamless integration and switching between NTN and terrestrial networks to enable voice communication. In the future, car drivers may not even realise that satellite connectivity has replaced a terrestrial network. According to the 5GAA 2030 Roadmap, the initial market deployment of satellite connectivity in vehicles is expected by 2027 (based on IoT NTN 3GPP Release 17).

Anritsu, Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz, and MediaTek complemented the NTN demonstrations with parallel test equipment measurements for performance verification.

For the first time on public roads, 5GAA member Valeo, in collaboration with Marben, demonstrated 5G-V2X Direct, in which two vehicles shared sensor data, triggering a warning of a pedestrian crossing at an obstructed intersection. This demonstration illustrated how 5G-V2X Direct (based on 3GPP Release 16) will enable vulnerable road users’ advanced protection by leveraging sensors and camera feeds from other vehicles to alert drivers, paving the way for smarter mobility. As per the 5GAA Visionary 2030 Roadmap, 5G-V2X is expected to be mass-deployed in commercial vehicle models starting from the time horizon 2026-2029.

The public road demonstrations continued with V2N technology for road users’ protection. 5GAA members, including Nokia, Orange, Stellantis, Valeo, and VEDECOM Institute, showcased interoperable V2X Platforms with vehicles, mobile applications and smart intersections (equipped with cameras and connected via the 5G networks) sharing collective perception to enhance road users’ safety.

 Additionally, HARMAN and u-blox showcased Emergency Electronic Brake Light (EEBL) near-real-time alerts to prevent hard braking events in line with the upcoming 2026 Euro NCAP local hazard warning requirements, and used precise positioning techniques to prevent false alerts.

5GAA members Rohde & Schwarz, S.E.A., Keysight and Orange also exhibited Next Generation Emergency Call (NG eCall) verification and network performance.

The event, hosted by Telecom-Paris, highlighted how 5GAA is driving the development of new standards for safety and innovation in automotive connectivity in Europe and globally.

5GAA is proud to celebrate its members’ achievements, which will be on full display at the ITS World Congress in Atlanta this August. From cutting-edge innovations to the deployment of mature intelligent transport systems for connected mobility, more than 20 5GAA member companies will participate, showcasing both individual and joint efforts that demonstrate the readiness of C-V2X solutions for large-scale deployment.

C-V2X uniquely combines direct vehicle-to-vehicle and network-based communication, enabling real-time information sharing between vehicles, infrastructure, pedestrians, and the cloud. This dual capability is critical to improving safety, reducing traffic congestion, and enhancing mobility system efficiency.

Download our brochure to discover everything our members are showcasing and how they are contributing to the programme at ITS World Congress Atlanta. Thank you to our members for participating:

AT&T Connected Solutions, Audi, Ericsson, Qualcomm, Verizon, Bosch, DENSO Corporation, HARMAN Automotive, LG Electronics, Applied Information, Cohda Wireless, Commsignia, Ettifos, Honda Motor, INTEGRITY Security Services LLC, Miovision, Monotch B.V., Microsec Ltd, Southwest Research Institute, Transportation Research Institute.

A Full Ecosystem on Display

5GAA members represent the broader connected mobility value chain—from vehicle manufacturers and telecom operators to chipset providers, software developers, infrastructure suppliers, and research institutions.

Their presence in Atlanta will highlight how C-V2X technology is already delivering:

• Safety:  Real-time situational awareness to protect drivers and vulnerable road users.
• Smart transportation: Smart traffic coordination via both direct V2X and cellular communications.
• Sustainability: Reducing emissions and fuel consumption through improved traffic management and reduced congestion.

5GAA members and the State Departments of Transportation (DoTs) will also showcase the role that they are playing in fostering these deployments throughout several demonstrations. Across the country, State and local agencies are partnering with infrastructure owners and operations (IOOs), and OEMs to enable roadside deployments, programmes, and long-term investment in connected infrastructure. These efforts underscore the U.S. commitment to leveraging C-V2X as a foundation for the future of mobility.

From demonstrations of real-world use cases to technical discussions, 5GAA members will highlight various ways in which C-V2X provides a tangible impact for regions, communities and end customers.

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For more information, please contact marcom@5gaa.org

In this cross-industry panel discussion of TelecomTV’s DSP Leaders World Forum, leaders from Jaguar Land Rover, Wind River and 5GAA explored how telcos and automotive OEMs can better align to support the growth of connected vehicles. From the rise of the software-defined vehicle to monetisation models, regulatory drivers and safety-critical connectivity, they look at the opportunities – and hurdles – to creating smarter, more responsive vehicles. With practical insights on APIs, over-the-air updates, digital twins and vehicle-to-everything (V2X), this debate revealed what it will take to make the connected car ecosystem truly work.

• In a global premiere, 5GAA members demonstrated connected vehicles using non-terrestrial networks (NTN), complementing terrestrial 4G and 5G networks
• The event featured the first on-the-road, live-traffic demonstration of 5G-V2X Direct technology capabilities for advanced connected mobility services
• 5GAA members showcased ready-to-deploy vehicle-to-network (V2N) technologies improving road safety in real traffic conditions

PARIS, 15 May 2025 — For the first time worldwide, the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) showcased connected vehicles using non-terrestrial networks (NTN) for emergency messaging, as well as 5G-V2X Direct for advanced detection of vulnerable road users (VRU) in real-traffic conditions. 5GAA members also demonstrated the readily available capabilities of Vehicle-to-Network (V2N) services.

“Today, we saw real vehicles on real roads, connected through cutting-edge technologies such as satellite, 5G-V2X Direct and commercial networks. This is the future of automotive connectivity, and it’s closer than you think,” said 5GAA Chairman Christoph Voigt.

5GAA members, vehicle manufacturers BMW Group and Stellantis and technology partners Anritsu,Cubic³, Deutsche Telekom, HARMAN, Jember, LG Electronics, Qualcomm Technologies, MediaTek, Rohde & Schwarz, Rolling Wireless, Skylo, VEDECOM Institute and Viasat demonstrated NTN satellite connectivity. Demonstrations focused respectively on realising hazard warning and emergency messaging use cases in the vehicle, as well as illustrating how NTN will complement terrestrial 4G and 5G networks in the future. Demonstrations on public roads emphasised the vision of how NTN can support ubiquitous automotive connectivity for connected services with seamless integration and switching between NTN and terrestrial networks to enable voice communication. In the future, car drivers may not even realise that satellite connectivity is being established instead of using a terrestrial network. According to 5GAA 2030 Roadmap, the initial market deployment of satellite connectivity in vehicles is expected by 2027 (based on IoT NTN 3GPP Release 17).

Anritsu, Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz, and MediaTek complemented the NTN demonstrations with parallel test equipment measurements for performance verification.

For the first time on the road, 5GAA member Valeo, in collaboration with Marben, demonstrated 5G-V2X Direct, in which two vehicles shared sensor data, triggering a warning of a pedestrian crossing at an obstructed intersection. This demonstration illustrated how 5G-V2X Direct (based on 3GPP Release 16) will enable vulnerable road users’ advanced protection by leveraging sensors and camera feeds from other vehicles to alert drivers, paving the way for smarter mobility. As per the 5GAA Visionary 2030 Roadmap, 5G-V2X is expected to be mass-deployed in commercial vehicle models starting from the time horizon 2026-2029.

The public road demonstrations continued with V2N technology for road users’ protection. 5GAA members, including Nokia, Orange, Stellantis, Valeo, and VEDECOM Institute, showcased interoperable V2X Platforms with vehicles, mobile applications and smart intersections (equipped with cameras and connected via the 5G networks) sharing collective perception to enhance road users’ safety. Additionally, HARMAN and u-blox showcased Emergency Electronic Brake Light (EEBL) near-real-time alerts to prevent hard braking events, in line with the upcoming 2026 Euro NCAP local hazard requirements, and used precise positioning techniques to prevent false alerts.

5GAA members Rohde & Schwarz, S.E.A., Keysight and Orange alsoexhibited Next Generation Emergency Call (NG eCall) verification and network performance.

The event, hosted by Telecom-Paris, highlighted how 5GAA is developing new standards for safety and innovation in automotive connectivity in Europe and globally.

Please see our brochure about the Paris demonstrations here.

A French version of this press release is also available for our French-speaking audience here.

Discover What Our 5GAA Members Are Saying here.

About the 5GAA

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) is a global, cross-industry organisation of more than 110 members, including leading global automakers, Tier-1 suppliers, mobile operators, semiconductor companies, and test equipment vendors. 5GAA members work together to develop end-to-end solutions for future mobility and transport services. 5GAA is committed to helping define and develop the next generation of connected mobility, automated vehicles, and intelligent transport solutions based on C-V2X. For more information about 5GAA, please visit www.5gaa.org.

Washington, D.C., 6 February 2025 – For the first time, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and members of the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) have partnered to showcase the complementarity of Cellular Vehicle-To-Everything (C-V2X) direct and mobile network communications at the Federal Highway Administration’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center. 

The live demonstrations illustrated the potential of connected-vehicle technologies to make American roads safer and more efficient. This public-private initiative also outlined the benefits of interworking communication modes for a unified transportation system.  

“5GAA commends USDOT for its leadership in advancing V2X technology through government-industry collaboration, critical for nationwide deployment,” said 5GAA Chairman Christopher Voigt. “We applaud USDOT’s commitment to seizing the full safety potential of V2X by integrating direct and mobile network communications to achieve 360° awareness.” 

Participants had the opportunity to experience several use cases: 

• Verizon showcased near real-time alerts enabled by C-V2X mobile network communications and mobile edge computing (MEC). Demonstrated capabilities included connected signalized intersection and delivery of pedestrian alerts, variable speed warnings, and weather warnings. 

• Audi, in collaboration with Spoke and the Coalition for Cyclist Safety, used C-V2X direct communications to address safety scenarios that often result in cyclist fatalities. The seamless integration of aftermarket solutions and in-vehicle systems is a clear example of leading automakers’ increasing interest in this technology. 

• Autotalks illustrated how C-V2X direct communications can prevent same-lane accidents: in their demo, a car swerved abruptly to avoid a stopped bicycle, showcasing the system’s potential to protect cyclists outside intersections. 

5GAA also gathered industry and government leaders to identify main drivers for deployment, such as the reauthorization of federal transportation funding. The event underpinned the critical role of C-V2X in achieving USDOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy targets, as well as the industry’s commitment to help implement the National V2X Deployment Plan released in August 2024.  

With this, the foundation is laid to leverage the existing tens of millions of connected road users and accelerate the nationwide rollout of connected-vehicle and connected-road infrastructure technologies, bringing us closer to the shared vision of zero traffic fatalities on American roads. 

About 5GAA   

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) is a global, cross-industry organization of more than 110 members, including leading global automakers, Tier-1 suppliers, mobile operators, semiconductor companies, and test equipment vendors. 5GAA members work together to develop end-to-end solutions for future mobility and transport services. 5GAA is committed to helping define and develop the next generation of connected mobility, automated vehicles, and intelligent transport solutions based on C-V2X. For more information about 5GAA, please visit www.5GAA.org.  

For further information please contact:  

5GAA Marketing & Communications –  Marcom@5GAA.org 

On 25 October 2024 , the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) demonstrated the latest innovations in the Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology family to help achieve “Vision Zero” for all road users. The demonstrations illustrated the potential of 5G-V2X to enable new use cases integrated across multiple automakers, service providers, and mobile network operators.

For the very first time, 5GAA demonstrated 5G-V2X Direct technology integration in Audi and BMW vehicles with the support of 5GAA members Autotalks, Bosch, Commsignia, and Fraunhofer FOKUS. This demonstration illustrated how technology can alert drivers about pedestrians and cyclists even before they can see them, leveraging sensors and a camera feed from other vehicles. The demonstrations showed the high bandwidth and low latency performance characteristics of 5G-V2X Direct using ETSI Release 2 messages.

5GAA members Bosch, Commsignia, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Keysight Technologies, LG Electronics, Mercedes-Benz and Vodafone, and the Coalition for Cyclist Safety, showcased ready-to-deploy, interoperable applications to increase awareness of vulnerable road users and emergency vehicles on public roads in central Berlin. Safety awareness alerts were delivered via 4G and 5G networks with low latency thanks to Multi-Access-Edge Computing and precise positioning, as verified by Anritsu’s performance measurements. ETSI-standardised messages were shared in real time between apps from various service providers.

“In Germany and across Europe, the ecosystem is ready to leverage the tens of millions of vehicles already connected via mobile networks and is now geared for the 2^nd generation technology with 5G-V2X including direct communications,” said 5GAA Chairman Christoph Voigt.

Autotalks and Bosch, together with Commsignia, demonstrated the benefits of collective perception related to vulnerable road users. Ettifos, Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz and SEA Datentechnik also exhibited 5G-V2X Direct interoperability and conformity solutions and radio performance verification.

To show that C-V2X is about both safety and efficiency, Audi, supported by Commsignia and Autotalks, demonstrated a use case for “cooperative parking” based on 5G-V2X Direct.

In line with 5GAA’s Visionary 2030 Roadmap, 5G is continuously being deployed in many car models and 5G-V2X Direct is expected to be mass-deployed in commercial vehicle models as early as 2026. This week’s event underlined the continuous commitment of major European automakers to 5G-V2X following 5GAA’s Open Statement^[1] in 2023.

For more information, watch the video below.

BRUSSELS, 3 December 2024 – The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) has sketched out an upbeat vision for better transportation safety, efficiency and sustainability with the third edition of its Roadmap for advanced driving use cases, connectivity, and technologies.  

The 24-page Roadmap III builds upon a 5GAA white paper first published in 2020 and updated in 2022. It includes both a summary of market and technological developments since the last report as well as a forecast of the market readiness and roll-out of connected mobility technologies through 2030, with a focus on cellular-vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology. 

Thanks to the rapid expansion of cellular networks worldwide, about 300 million vehicles, including about two-thirds of all cars sold in the world’s major automotive markets, are now “connected.” Moreover, road and other infrastructure owners and operators have continued to expand a network of roadside sensors, traffic lights and other devices that help make transportation smarter, safer—including for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users—and more sustainable.  

While most vehicles and infrastructure to-date have relied on C-V2X technology to communicate with one another via cellular networks, the Roadmap also sees a growing role for “direct” vehicle-to-vehicle and related communications as soon as two years from now. 5GAA expects 5G-V2X Direct-enabled vehicles and related services to begin to be mass-deployed between 2026 and 2029, starting in Europe.  

In addition, the third edition of the Roadmap for the first time describes a timeline for new use cases enabled by non-terrestrial networks and advanced Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC). Satellite connectivity could help guarantee ubiquitous service in rural areas and disaster situations as soon as 2027, for example.  

“Connected vehicle technologies and the market have both come a long way, since 2000,” said Maxime Flament, 5GAA Chief Technology Officer. “Our latest Roadmap foresees the continuous evolution of C-V2X cellular and direct communications technologies that will help save lives, make transportation more efficient and more sustainable and accelerate the spread of autonomous vehicles,” he said.  

5GAA sees the Roadmap as a guide to help vehicle manufacturers, telecommunications network operators, road and other infrastructure owners and operators, as well as governments, understand the investments, speed and spectrum requirements needed to ensure the most efficient deployment of the new technologies and services. This, in turn, can help governments achieve their stated vision of zero road fatalities more quickly and also expedite the deployment of autonomous vehicles.   

You can download the full Roadmap here.

About 5GAA  

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) is a global, cross-industry organization of more than 115 members, including leading global automakers, Tier-1 suppliers, mobile operators, semiconductor companies, and test equipment vendors. 5GAA members work together to develop end-to-end solutions for future mobility and transport services. 5GAA is committed to helping define and develop the next generation of connected mobility, automated vehicles, and intelligent transport solutions based on C-V2X. For more information about 5GAA, please visit www.5GAA.org. 

For further information please contact:  

5GAA Marketing & Communications –  Marcom@5GAA.org 

5GAA welcomes the renewed attention and subsequent discussions on Next Generation eCall (NG eCall) and the legacy fleet, following the second phase of the IDIADA study, presented on 12 December 2023. Whilst the opportunity to address the critical issue of the legacy fleet is welcome, we wish to draw attention to some key industry concerns.

In this position paper, we underline that industry cannot be held liable for the lack of service continuity of 112-based eCall for the legacy fleet, which result from obsolete legislative requirements. Since both retrofit as well as the extension of 2G/3G networks are implausible, we call for public authorities to take responsibility in informing users in the event of eCall failure, in instances outside industry control. We also encourage further research to be carried out to revise the current eCall regulatory framework so that it becomes future proof and does not lead to the same situation in the future as we have now once NG eCall becomes obsolete, or 4G networks are being transitioned to other technologies. This should be based on a transparent dialogue between authorities and industry to find the right solution.

Read about 5GAA’s position here.

Sustainability benefits of C-V2X

Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything, or C-V2X, communications will make transportation not only safer and smarter but also more sustainable.

Sustainability has three dimensions: environmental, social and economic.

C-V2X ticks all three boxes:

• Environmental: By helping to make every trip smarter, safer and more efficient, C-V2X helps reduce congestion and accidents, thereby reducing air pollution, noise pollution and energy use.
  
• Social: Saving lives and avoiding injuries are clear social benefits. By enabling real-time communication between pedestrians, cyclists, traffic infrastructure and moving vehicles, including motorcycles and electric scooters, C-V2X will help avoid accidents that otherwise would result in injuries and deaths.
  
• Economic: By enabling more efficient mobility, C-V2X will save people and employers billions of man-hours currently wasted in traffic jams. Those man-hours can then be dedicated to more rewarding activities.  

C-V2X also enables the growth of autonomous mobility, which in turn offers even greater sustainability benefits, for example mobility-as-a-service offerings.

To learn more, watch the short video or scroll down for more details.

C-V2X and Sustainability in detail

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

• Transport still represents about 25% of Europe’s total CO2 emissions. By helping to make every trip smarter, safer and more efficient, C-V2X helpsreduce congestion and accidents, thereby reducing energy use, noise pollution and air pollution.
• C-V2X can help all vehicles operate and deliver people and goods more efficiently, thereby reducing pollution and optimizing the use of valuable energy resources. 
  • INRIX calculated that each second of reduced delays at traffic signals across the United States would translate to an annual reduction of 800,000 metric tons of CO2.
  • Connected vehicle technology can help electric cars calculate an energy-optimised route to a charging station that’s not necessarily the fastest or nearest but requires the least energy to reach. 
• Examples of environmental benefits enabled by C-V2X technologies include:  
  • Current technology permitting smarter routing for all vehicles in both urban and rural areas, for example via automated traffic routing, road, bridge, tunnel and parking availability updates and smart parking. 
  • Future technology permitting “green waves” for emergency vehicles, cars, trucks, lorries and other vehicles instead of stop-and-go traffic. 
  • Future technology facilitating manoeuvres and cooperation in traffic.  
• For more detailed information, please see TNO’s report for 5GAA on the Environmental Benefits of C-V2X.

SOCIAL BENEFITS

• By enabling real-time communication between pedestrians, cyclists, traffic infrastructure and moving vehicles, including motorcycles, C-V2X will help avoid accidents that otherwise would result in injuries and deaths. 
  •  According to the World Health Organisation, there were 1.35 million traffic deaths globally in 2016, the latest year for which global data are available. Road traffic deaths are a leading cause of death among young people, in particular. 
  • In the European Union, there were about 20,608 road deaths in 2023, or about 46 road deaths per million inhabitants.  
  • In the United States, an estimated 40,990 people died in road accidents in 2023. The United States Department of Transportation has set an ambitious goal of zero traffic deaths, in part by leveraging advanced technologies to prevent accidents in the first place.  
    • It says: “The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy specifies that zero is the only acceptable number of deaths and serious injuries on our roadways. USDOT is committed to taking substantial, comprehensive action to achieve this goal.” 
• By providing real-time hazard notifications and enabling connected cooperative driving, C-V2X makes transportation safer for all road users, including cyclists. As C-V2X makes the roads safer, more people may feel confident in choosing cycling as their primary mode of transportation. 
  • A U.S. DOT pilot study demonstrated that C-V2X technology can prevent accidents and injury for vulnerable road users.  
• Green waves and corridors for emergency vehicles can help save lives and reduce injuries, allowing people to lead longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.  
  • Response times are critical for emergency vehicles and first responders to save lives. A 2020 study showed that “green waves” at traffic lights could reduce response times by as much as 30% with little impact on overall traffic conditions.   
• By enabling more efficient mobility, C-V2X will save commuters billions of man-hours currently wasted in stressful traffic jams.Those man-hours can be dedicated to more enjoyable and rewarding activities such as doing sports, hobbies, volunteering, education or spending time with friends and family. 
  • In Europe, the average driver in some cities loses more than 150 hours per year stuck in traffic jams.  
  • Americans lost as much as 3.4 billion hours in traffic in total in 2021.  
• C-V2X helps connect other modes of transport with one another to facilitate a real multi-modal transportation system.  

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

• By enabling automated driving and mobility as a service, C-V2X will help create new products and services that help drive more sustainable economic growth.  
• For example, anonymous data collected through C-V2X can help governments and policymakers develop more effective infrastructure maintenance programmes and traffic plans.  
• By enabling more efficient mobility, C-V2X will save employers and entrepreneurs billions of man-hours currently wasted in traffic jams.Those man-hours can then be dedicated to more rewarding activities.
  •  For commercial vehicles, C-V2X can help optimise delivery routes and schedules and reduce the number of empty or partially loaded trips. Efficient route management reduces energy use and pollution.
  • The deployment of C-V2X technologies in vehicles can increase demand for 5G and future networks, each of which will be more energy-efficient than the technologies they replace.  

Want to learn more?

If you want to learn more about the timeline for the introduction of next-generation C-V2X communications technologies, including those with clear environmental benefits, please see our latest C-V2X technology Roadmap here.

In our ongoing “Meet Our Members” series, we explore the unique journeys and expertise of the individuals who make the 5G Automotive Association. Each interview sheds light onto the incredible work, vision, and passion of the people behind our organisation. You can check out our last conversation with Menno Malta, CEO of Monotch, here.

This time, we introduce Jyoti Sharma, Associate Director of Network Planning at Verizon and alternate board member at 5GAA since 2021. Jyoti has brought her deep industry insight to a range of work items, including Vehicle-to-Network-to-Everything (V2N2X) and has led initiatives such as the Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Demo. Her commitment to accelerating the large-scale deployment of V2X technologies make her a valuable contributor to the 5GAA, and we’re excited to learn more about her perspective on the future of 5G and MEC in transportation.

Could you tell us briefly about Verizon’s involvement in 5GAA and how your company benefits from being a member?

Verizon has been an active member of 5GAA since its inception. We started out as a general member and initially contributed at the working group level. We saw tremendous value in taking a leadership role in 5GAA as a major U.S. telecommunications provider and were elected by the members as a gold board member in 2021. Currently, Verizon is a platinum board member of 5GAA and we are playing a critical strategic role as one of the key stakeholders in the V2X ecosystem. 

When did you first become part of the 5GAA board? What are some of your responsibilities, and what has been your most rewarding experience so far?

I represent Verizon on the 5GAA board as an alternate board member since 2021. In my role as a board member I have the privilege and responsibility to ensure 5GAA remains focused on key strategic focus areas which will accelerate a large-scale deployment of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) across the globe. My most rewarding experience has been to collaborate with other 5GAA members who are leaders from auto OEM customers, their tier 1 suppliers, chipset and module providers and other ecosystem partners. This technical collaboration between all the stakeholders is the key to drive innovation and unlock the full potential of V2X communications at scale and make it a reality.

Can you share any recent examples of how Verizon has collaborated with other 5GAA members to drive innovation in the industry?

Verizon has taken a leadership role in bringing the V2X ecosystem partners together under the 5GAA umbrella. We have demonstrated thought leadership in defining the network architecture to solve challenging V2X requirements leveraging key technology enablers such as 5G, multi-access edge computing (MEC) and Hyper Precise Location. Our recent V2X VRU (Vulnerable Road User) demo in Detroit showcasing interoperability between different network operators and application providers generated a very positive response and engagement from auto OEMs, Departments of Transportation and road operators. The demo was successful due to close collaboration with several 5GAA member companies.

As the lead of the VRU DEMO Work Item, could you elaborate on the significance of demonstrating interoperability in the context of Vulnerable Road User protection solutions?

VRU DEMO is one of the key strategic focus areas at the 5GAA board level that the industry has been trying to address for many decades. We believe the C-V2X and other technology enablers (5G, MEC, Hyper Precise Location) are ready to mitigate the number of road accidents involving vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. In order to deploy such a VRU solution at scale it needs to work across multiple operators, multiple auto OEMs, multiple application providers and multiple cloud providers. We reached a significant milestone by demonstrating interoperability amongst different stakeholders and showcased the technology is ready to deploy at scale with existing networks. The learnings from the demo are being replicated in other parts of the world and are informing U.S. DOT V2X Deployment plans.

What criteria were used to select the specific use cases for demonstration in VRU DEMO? How did these use cases represent real-world scenarios and challenges?

There has been extensive discussion within 5GAA to define different VRU scenarios. Different flavors of VRU use cases have been documented in published technical reports. The demo team carefully selected most common real world VRU scenarios such as active pedestrian crossing alert and using roadside cameras and artificial intelligence, machine learning logic in the MEC to detect pedestrians and alert the drivers to avoid potential collision. 

Verizon participated in the demos with a showcase of its network solution using multi-access edge computing. How does MEC differ from traditional network-based computing in terms of its benefits for VRU protection applications? 

MEC allows us to bring traditional cloud compute and storage within the mobile network closer to the edge where the data is generated reducing the end to end latency. It is well established that MEC is a key differentiator and technology enabler for latency critical use cases such as VRU protection. Verizon has already deployed public MEC across the United States in partnership with cloud providers. We continue to drive innovation by developing standard MEC and Network APIs for application providers. During the VRU demo we demonstrated near real time VRU alerts over 5G and applications hosted on Verizon’s Detroit MEC.