ITU approves new standard on 5G for connected automated vehicles

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has finalized a new report on the use of 5G technology to support Cellular Vehicle to everything (C-V2X) communications to support automated vehicles, also known as “driverless cars” , after 3 years of studies and deliberations.

40th meeting of ITU-R Working party 5D, which deals with Mobile Cellular 4G and 5G technologies globally, concluded this Wednesday after two-and-half week long virtual meeting in which over 500 delegates from over 50 governments and over global 100 telecom companies participated.

ITU-APT Foundation of India’s President Bharat B Bhatia who chaired the group which completed the global standard on use of 5G for “Driverless cars” said that the new ITU report will be published by the ITU after formal ratification by the Study Group 5. He also noted that “automated and connected vehicles” will exist side-by-side with other non-automated road users for a foreseeable future. He emphasized that the coordinated automated driving manoeuvres are one of the main reasons that wireless communications are being viewed as critically important.

This WP5D meeting also continued further development of a new recommendation on a global vision for International Mobile Communications for 2030, commonly known as “6G”. IAFI in its contribution to the ITU had proposed that the traditional focus in 4G and 5G towards higher data speeds should be directed in 6G towards meeting the needs the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while supporting Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and delivering on digital inclusion and connecting the rural and remote communities. These proposals have been included in the working document on 6G developed by the meeting.

The concept of CAV is further supported by Maneuvers Coordination Service also called Coordinated Driving or Advanced Driving which then enables coordinated merging, coordinated lane change of semi-automated or fully automated vehicles. Another terminology to better understand advanced driving would be the concept of “Cooperative Automated Driving (CAD)” which brings together driving automation technology with V2X communication. In order to enable vehicles to coordinate their driving maneuvers and achieve a common global understanding of their surroundings, leading to a safer and more efficient driving, which is the way forward for futuristic approach in adopting technology for day-to-day use.

Jitendra Singh, Executive member IAFI chaired the drafting group that is preparing a new ITU Standard on Private/industrial 5G.
IAFI had also submitted 5 other contributions to this 4oth meeting of WP5D on various issues relating to 5G.

ITU-APT Foundation of India (ITU-APT) is a non-profit, non-political, non-partisan Industry foundation registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1960. ITU-APT is working for last 18 years with the prime objective of encouraging involvement of professionals, corporate, public/private sector industries, R&D organizations, academic institutions, and such other agencies engaged in development of Indian Telecom sector in the activities of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT).

The Foundation has been recognized as an International/Regional Telecommunications Organization by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). ITU-APT is also having close working relations with similar organizations in many other countries including, Japan, Indonesia and USA.

Our members include many stalwarts of the telecom sector including many previous secretaries, members, advisors and DDGs of the DOT and Telecom Commission. We also have many corporate members from India and other countries including operators, vendors. The foundation has been responding to various government consultations in the past.

CT Bureau