Video interview by TelecomTV.

Our CTO Maxime Flament discusses the organisation’s technical work in advancing 5G standards for the automotive sector. He highlights the current applications of 5G in vehicles, including telematics and safety features, and envisions a future with enhanced automation and reliability. Flament also explains the complementary approaches of network-based vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and the emerging 5G-V2X Direct specifications, and how the 5GAA is facilitating the collaboration between the telecom and automotive industries to integrate and harmonise these solutions to enable safer and smarter transportation.

Recorded in October 2024.

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.

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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. 

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) thrives on the collective expertise and collaborative spirit of its members. Over 110 organisations strong, our membership represents a global network of market leaders and innovators shaping the future of connected mobility.

We are kicking off a new series, “Meet Our Members,” to delve deeper into the stories of the individuals who make up the backbone of 5GAA. First up, we will be featuring Menno Malta, CEO of Monotch, who has been actively involved in one of 5GAA’s most recent and exciting areas of work – Vehicle-to-Network-to-Everything (V2N2X) communication.

This interview series will showcase a diverse range of profiles, highlighting their contributions, challenges, and predictions for the exciting world of 5G-connected transportation. Get ready to be inspired by the passion and ingenuity of our members as we meet the people who make 5GAA.

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Menno, you are the CEO of Monotch, a 5GAA member company. How does Monotch’s work relate to 5GAA’s, and what keeps you engaged with our association?

Monotch operates at the forefront of the V2N2X market. Our proven TLEX platform is used by cities and road authorities all over the world to connect mobility and digital infrastructure bringing substantial societal benefits and increased cost-effectiveness.

The initial interest that drew us to 5GAA was the opportunity to engage with OEMs, mobile network operators, and related industries. This is still of interest! We really appreciate the possibilities to discuss developments and work jointly on progressing the market. The networking opportunities are also great for us.

Monotch is based in the Netherlands. Last year, your views were instrumental in the organisation of 5GAA’s workshop in the Hague, where we looked at C-V2X deployment in the Low Countries. Two years later, what is the state of play for C-V2X and connected mobility in the Netherlands, and how do you see it unfolding?

In the Netherlands, we see a steady growth of smart and connected roadside infrastructure as well as new use cases such as emergency vehicle warnings that are now available on a large scale. This leads to more connected parties, including the first vehicle OEMs. On top of this, there is a push on urban challenges and use cases, which will lead to even more data and impact in the next few years. The Netherlands is truly a lighthouse deployment, and authorities from other countries come here often to see what’s happening and how they can apply learnings in their own jurisdiction.

One of 5GAA’s recent areas of work has been vehicle-to-network-to-everything (V2N2X) communications, and you’ve been one of its main contributors. What is V2N2X, what makes this such an important topic, and what are some of the biggest hurdles to overcome in achieving its widespread adoption?

V2N2X is a subset of overall V2X, where the cellular network and cloud components are used to realise connected mobility. It allows the ecosystem to get to scale with many use cases in a relatively short term, as it leverages existing technology such as apps, onboard units and, of course, the 4G/5G network! I think it’s hugely important for 5GAA as it shows the value of a connected ecosystem to the main stakeholders and can kickstart overall C-V2X deployment.

The V2N2X work item has been concluded with the publication of a white paper, ‘Road Traffic Operation in a Digital Age,’ and two associated reports. What is the objective of these publications, and how do they complement each other?

The white paper can be seen as a summary of the Technical V2N2X Architecture report. It’s a great read for everyone involved in this market, whether you’re an authority or a private sector executive. The Technical V2N2X Architecture report offers detailed insights into the blueprint architecture, and I recommend it to subject matter experts.

The other technical report is of a different nature. It describes the V2N2X market from a business perspective—for example, the market size, the kinds of business models we see, and which factors drive the market. It also contains descriptions of large-scale example deployments, taking away whatever doubts people might have about the feasibility of V2N2X..

The upcoming online session on 18 June will present the findings of these publications. What are you most excited about sharing with the audience?

So much to share! I can promise the session will be packed with insights, but I’m probably most excited to share the OEM and IOO (Infrastructure Owner and Operator) customer profiles we created. It’s about their goals, pains and gains, and for this, we did a survey and an  analysis of large-scale deployments. I’m so excited about it because it really ties to the why of our work.

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) welcomes the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to authorize initial deployments of Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (“C-V2X”) technology in the 5.9 GHz band to 17 entities, including 12 State Departments of Transportation (DOTs), Macomb County, City and County of Denver and to the University of Michigan.

“We have been eagerly waiting for this second FCC action to grant these 17 entities permission to deploy life-saving C-V2X technology in the United States, including the University of Michigan, which is also one of our members,” said John F. Kwant, Executive Director, Americas, for 5GAA. “This action extends the geographical jurisdiction for C-V2X deployment and represents a key milestone to achieve widespread deployment of this state-of-the-art vehicle safety technology.”

In December 2021, a group of automakers, state departments of transportation, and equipment manufacturers jointly filed a Waiver Request asking the FCC to waive its 5.9 GHz band rules to permit them to immediately deploy C-V2X technology. Following this joint filing, more than 17 entities requested waivers under the same conditions.

About 5GAA

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) is a global, cross-industry organization of over 120 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 vehicle, and intelligent transport solutions based on C-V2X. For more information, visit our website.

Media Contact

5GAA Communications Team: marcom@5gaa.org

5GAA to hold a session at ITS America Conference & Expo 2023 in Texas.

ITS America is a premier event that brings together decision-makers and their supporting teams from public and private sector transportation agencies to learn about the implementation of new technologies and solutions that will enable a safer, greener, and smarter transportation system, at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Dallas, Texas, April 24-27, 2023.  ​

ITS America Conference & Expo allows the smart mobility community to come together to explore the deployment of intelligent transportation technologies that saves lives, improves mobility, promotes sustainability, and increases efficiency and productivity.​

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) is proud to be a Partner in the event, bringing together key actors of the mobility ecosystem and leading the field of connected mobility. 5GAA is thrilled to attend this 2023 edition, having the opportunity to discover innovative technology advances and network again with mobile and tech industry influencers.

In this edition, 5GAA will be holding a session on connected mobility.

See the Programme and Schedule of the 5GAA session here.

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

The 5GAA Logo

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Colors

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The 5GAA gradient

Darker Blue

Pantone 654C
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Dark blue

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Regular blue

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Lighter blue

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Clearspace

On October 20th, 2022, the 5G Automotive Association will meet with members in Málaga for a symposium on “5GAA’s achievements and the C-V2X ecosystem”, followed by more than 15 C-V2X live demonstrations taking place at the DEKRA facilities.  

Between October 17 and 20, the 5G Automotive Association will travel to Malaga, Spain, for an internal meeting week. On Thursday, October 20, DEKRA will welcome 5GAA at its testing centre in Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía, where they will host a members’ symposium and several  live demonstrations. 

The symposium will bring members together with EU road traffic authorities, operators and other ecosystem stakeholders. The programme includes a presentation and exchange around the new C-V2X 2030 Roadmap and a sample of essential 5GAA Work Items completed over the past year. For the closing remarks, the association is honoured to welcome H.E. Mr. Roberto Sánchez,  Spain’s Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures. The road operators will then be invited to join a round table hosted by 5GAA Board representatives. 

In the afternoon, attendees can witness the demonstrations organised by 5GAA, showcasing some of the latest developments for 5G and C-V2X technologies. This unique experience will feature 16 live indoor and outdoor demos, proving that 5GAA members do not cease to innovate and deliver cutting-edge solutions for connected and automated mobility. The list of confirmed participants includes, amongst others, Autotalks, Huawei, Continental, Deutsche Telekom, Keysight, Molex and Anritsu.

To help attendees plan their visit, 5GAA has designed a brochure containing a map of the facilities and a description of each demo. It is available here for download.

 

List of confirmed demos:

 

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) will again join the ITS World Congress, the global flagship event for intelligent transportation systems, taking place in Los Angeles from September 18 to 22. This occasion will bring together policymakers, researchers, and industry representatives from all over the world to explore this year’s central theme, “Transformation by Transportation”. 

The ITS World Congress is coming back to the United States and gathering the entire mobility ecosystem to provide all attendees with an exciting opportunity to discover, connect, and learn. The 5G Automotive Association is pleased to join; to that end, the team has curated a comprehensive programme for the kick-off day – Monday, September 19. 5GAA’s initiatives are set to bring journalists, industry members, public authorities and road operators closer to the association’s work and the latest advances of our members in C-V2X technologies. 

5GAA’s plans at the ITSWC include:  

• Showcasing our latest developments at the 5GAA booth, #419, in the main Exhibit Hall 
• Scheduling 1-to-1 meetings with our experts to discuss industry progress, innovation developments and members’ technology advances 
• Guided tours for media, industry, and government officials
• Holding two speaking sessions at the Education Hall in collaboration with our members 

Join our Guided Tours

On September 19, from 11 AM to 12 PM (PDT), 5GAA will host a Press Tour, led by journalist Brian Maguire. It includes scheduled visits to some of the association’s members, like Continental, Intel, Nokia, Commsignia and more, who will hold demos at their booths to showcase their latest C-V2X advancements. Our members’ representatives will be available to address media questions after the demonstrations.   Registrations are open here.

At the same time, we encourage industry stakeholders and government officials to register for their respective tours, taking place on September 20 between 9.30 AM and 11.15 AM (PDT), which will follow the same order.

5GAA Speaking Session at ITSWC2022 

The “Connected Driving: C-V2X on the Road” conference will also take place on September 19 from 1 to 3 PM (PDT) at the Education Hall, featuring two panel discussions with top-level guests: 

1. C-V2X for Safety Services 

Today’s C-V2X safety services, such as traffic signal pre-emption and road hazard information, save lives. Our panel will cover the importance of the 30 MHz allocation in the U.S. for current usage, but also the need to secure 40 MHz additional spectrum for advanced V2X safety services.

2. Mobility Benefits

V2X deployment is advancing globally, enabling the creation of unprecedented information to aid Traffic Management and Operations. The emergence of C-V2X supports widespread deployment of mobility services, and represents a win-win for traffic operations, industry, and, most importantly, people/  

Register here for the conference, or book a 1-to-1 meeting with a 5GAA representative. 

 

Side activities: 5GAA CTO and members’ panels 

• September 18, 1 to 4.30 PM PDT – Digital Infrastructure Workshop, sponsored by Qualcomm, with Maxime Flament (5GAA)
• September 21, 10 to 11.30 AM PDT – “Findings of Original Equipment Manufacturers Deployment into a Connected Vehicle Deployment” session, with Aaron Weinfield (DENSO)
• September 21, 1 to 4 PM PDT – “5G Connectivity” workshop, with Maxime Flament (5GAA), Coen Bresser (ERTICO/ITS Europe), Ralf Weber (Qualcomm), Julia Rainer (Audi AG).

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For any questions about our plans at the ITS World Congress, don’t hesitate to contact the Marcom team at marcom@5gaa.org.  

Through September 15, 2022, a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will be open for Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grants in FY22. It’s an opportunity for companies to apply for a part of $1 billion per year in FY22-26 grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

The timing is fortuitous. Newly released traffic crash estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that traffic fatality rates in 2021 are the highest since 2005. NHTSA projects a final tally of 42,915 lives lost during 2021 in traffic crashes nationwide.

Making transportation safer and more equitable

To support its goals, the SS4A program funds activities that will help lower fatalities on U.S. roads and highways. The program is also an opportunity to fund regional, local and Tribal initiatives aimed at making transportation equitable for all road users.

Equity is an important element in underserved communities, which are disproportionately affected by fatalities among vulnerable road users (VRUs). These users include pedestrians, cyclists and the growing number people using micro-mobility options such as e-bikes and scooters.

Underserved communities also have higher vehicular traffic volumes, trucking routes and major arterial roads. They are characterized by intersections that are unsafe or impassable by foot or bike, and an overall lower level and quality of walking and cycling infrastructure. NHTSA’s projections for 2021 show alarming increases in fatalities for pedestrians (13 percent), motorcyclists (9 percent) and bicyclists (5 percent), making the SS4A funding opportunity even more fortuitous for VRUs.

Applying C-V2X technology to prevent road fatalities

Many roadway deaths are preventable. Cellular-vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) is a wireless technology that allows vehicles to communicate directly with each other (V2V), with roadside infrastructure (V2I) and potentially with pedestrians (V2P). C-V2X supports information sharing to facilitate applications that enhance safety for all road users.

NHTSA believes that safety applications supported by V2V and V2I could eliminate or mitigate the severity of up to 80 percent of non-impaired crashes. Also, connected vehicle technology is on the National Transportation Safety Board’s Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements.

The following use cases illustrate the immediate impact of safety applications that use C-V2X technology:

• Red-light violation warning (RLVW)
  More than half of all fatal and injury crashes happen at intersections (source). The most common cause of all urban crashes, drivers running red lights result in an average of seven fatalities and more than 1,000 injuries per day at signalized intersections across the country (source).

• Intersection movement assist (IMA)
  Similar to RLVW, IMA safety applications can alert other drivers when someone is running a red light so they can take action to stop before entering the intersection.
• Spot weather warnings
  Inclement weather, which can result in road hazards such as icy patches on highways, are not easily detected by LIDAR sensors. Infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V) applications can send a warning to approaching vehicles, reducing the potential for sharp drops in speed that can result in road incidents.
• Traffic signal pre-emption
  Aimed at shortening emergency response times to help save lives, this use case allows vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks to remotely trigger a green light. Related V2V applications share this information with nearby vehicles so drivers can take action to move out of the way, reducing congestion along the route to improve safety for first responders and road users alike.
• School zone safety
  C-V2X alerts drivers when they are entering an active school zone and notifies them of the reduced speed limit. Future applications might include automatically slowing vehicles as they approach an active school zone.

See more use cases below.

What you can’t see can hurt you, and C-V2X plays a critical safety role because it allows the vehicle to see more than the driver can see. Regular sensors keep vehicles safe in immediate surroundings; C-V2X provides more robust signaling to help vehicles see around blind corners and many other types of obstructions. It connects vehicles and roadside infrastructure that are not in each other’s line of sight and allows them to share information about traffic conditions.

How C-V2X fits with SS4A

SS4A accepts both Action Plan Grants and Implementation Grants, with the latter drawing upon the foundation of the former. The program calls out four selection criteria:

1. Safety impact
2. Equity, engagement, collaboration
3. Effective practices and strategies
4. Climate and sustainability, and economic competitiveness

Two notable considerations are project readiness and funds to underserved communities.

USDOT lists several sample activities for Implementation Grants that align closely with C-V2X, including these:

• Deploying advanced transportation technologies, such as the installation of connected intersection-based safety solutions and vehicle-to-infrastructure advisory speed limit systems (e.g., intelligent speed assistance — see above)
• Evaluating and improving the safety of intersections by considering innovative design changes, improved delineation, and advanced warning
• Creating safe routes to school and public transit services through multiple activities that lead to people safely walking and biking in underserved communities.
• Promoting the adoption of innovative technologies or strategies for the safety and protection of VRUs in high-traffic areas where commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists interact.

Next steps

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, SS4A is a discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next 5 years. A related opportunity opening up in late 2022 is the $500 million Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants from USDOT. Both SS4A and SMART provide a path to federal funding to build novel uses of C-V2X and 5G technologies into the nation’s infrastructure. To provide more visibility for industry stakeholders, USDOT has published a full list of funding opportunities with anticipated dates for 2022.

Applications built around C-V2X can help make intersections safer and reduce fatalities due to speeding in the use cases shown above, as well as in these:

• At-grade rail crossings — alerting emergency vehicles that a rail crossing is closed, enabling early rerouting and avoiding delays in life-saving calls
• Pedestrian crossings — detecting when a VRU is in the crosswalk ahead and warning approaching drivers to proceed with caution
• Incident clearance and response — sending alerts to drivers as they approach an emergency vehicle stopped in or along the roadway ahead, thereby helping to prevent secondary crashes
• Wrong-way driving — detecting drivers who go the wrong way on on-ramps and highways, then alerting the driver, nearby drivers, and law enforcement

These applications can also help make transportation equitable in underserved communities, fulfilling another important goal of SS4A.

Find out how to apply for SS4A grants here and in the USDOT’s “Safe Streets and Roads for All” webinar series.

In May 2022, the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) came together in Atlanta for a workshop on “C-V2X: Ready to Deploy”, followed by a series of live C-V2X demonstrations. The demos took place in two different locations, the Alpharetta Infrastructure Automotive Technology Laboratory (iATL) and the Peachtree Corners Curiosity Lab, and were open to local authorities and the broader ecosystem stakeholders. Our members showcased cellular vehicle-to-everything services and devices using cellular networks, for a wide range of applications – as shown in the video!

In addition, you can check out here all the pictures of the face-to-face week in Atlanta.