Get ready for C-V2X to start changing the way we drive – as early as 2019.

Maged Zaki, Director, Technical Marketing, Qualcomm Technologies Inc.

January 2, 2019

5 Min Read
2019 Will See Commercial C-V2X Rollouts Throughout the World

Figure 1:

By now, you've probably heard about the potential benefits of deploying C-V2X (cellular vehicle-to-everything) technology — from collision avoidance to encountering nothing but green lights all the way home. At Qualcomm Technologies, we're developing many of the foundational technologies behind C-V2X and working closely with global automakers, Tier 1 suppliers, infrastructure providers, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) software developers, connected vehicle solution providers, road operators, mobile network operators, and governments to help transform the transportation industry.

We announced our Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset solution in September 2017 and it’s already being designed into Roadside Units (RSUs), Onboard Units (OBUs), and modules used for automotive safety and traffic efficiency. With so many C-V2X announcements having occurred since this past June in the US, and then China and Europe, it's fair to say that C-V2X is in the fast lane.

Growing the C-V2X ecosystem in China, preparing for deployments in 2019
C-V2X (also known as LTE-V2X) is the technology of choice for China's Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and Intelligent and Connected Vehicles (ICVs). The Chinese are moving vigorously with the technology to solve transportation challenges and improve road safety and traffic efficiency, including the recent allocation of spectrum for LTE-V2X technology. Additionally, the Chinese NDRC (National Development and Reform Commission) identified a target C-V2X network coverage rate of 90% in 2020. To help China achieve widespread deployment of C-V2X road infrastructure, Qualcomm Technologies continues to work closely with mobile network operators, including China Mobile, which announced the development of RSUs for LTE-V2X PC5 Direct Communication featuring the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset solution. We are also helping enable other leading Chinese ITS and connected vehicle solution providers, such as Genvict, Nebula Link, and Neusoft, to launch C-V2X solutions for roadside and onboard units featuring the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset solution.

To showcase technology maturity and readiness, Qualcomm Technologies and Datang demonstrated the world’s first multi-chipset vendor C-V2X Direct Communication interoperability in August 2018.

A key pilot project supported by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Safety of China and the Jiangsu Provincial Government was held in Wuxi in September. At the V2X demonstration area, Groupe PSA showed the latest LTE-V2X technology in Groupe PSA’s PEUGEOT and CITROEN cars equipped with the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset solution. Separately, we teamed up with Qianxun SI and Quectel to deliver cost effective, highly accurate positioning solutions that are necessary to maximize V2X benefits.

Demonstrating C-V2X technology readiness in Europe
C-V2X momentum is not only happening in Asia. This past July, we demonstrated C-V2X communication interoperability between multiple automakers in Europe:

  • In Germany, as part of our work with the Connected Vehicle to Everything of Tomorrow (ConVeX) consortium – funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transportation and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), we demonstrated Europe’s first live C-V2X direct communication interoperability between motorcycles, vehicles, and infrastructure. The demonstration featured Audi Q7 and Audi A4 vehicles, as well as a Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro two-wheel vehicle.

    • Hosted by the UTAC CERAM in Paris, we held a second demonstration featuring automobiles from BMW, Groupe PSA, and Ford, as well as two-wheel e-scooters provided by BMW Group, and RSUs from Savari, all of which were equipped with C-V2X direct communication technology using the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset solution.

    • Also in France, we engaged with the French national railway company SNCF to support unique safety applications for railway transportation, such as Train-to-Railway Crossing and Car-to-Railway Crossing.

      Qualcomm Technologies also worked with leading road infrastructure and Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) software companies in Europe, including LACROIX City, Commsignia, and Marben to include C-V2X direct communication technologies in their RSUs. Qualcomm is also working closely with Cohda Wireless to develop C-V2X solutions, leveraging Cohda's industry leadership to accelerate commercialization.

      As a leader in 5G innovation, Qualcomm Technologies also supports the collaborative network of cross-border corridors between European countries. We believe this initiative will provide an optimal environment for testing and deployment of 5G, while showcasing Europe's leadership in large-scale testing and pre-commercial deployment of 5G to help advance the automotive industry’s shift toward a safe, connected, and more autonomous future for transportation.

      Driving toward C-V2X commercialization in the United States
      Qualcomm Technologies worked closely with Ford and other 5GAA members in multiple locations, including Washington DC, Michigan, and California to compare the radio performance of C-V2X and 802.11p-based DSRC technologies. Test results showed C-V2X's superior performance, including higher reliability, longer range in valuable NLoS (non-line of sight) conditions, robustness to interference, and congestion handling.

      In June, C-V2X took an important step forward when Ford, Panasonic, Qualcomm Technologies, and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced plans to deploy C-V2X technology on select roadways in Colorado. In August, these same companies demonstrated the first production-grade C-V2X system in the U.S., in which real-time data would be shared across vehicles, infrastructure, and people with a goal to improve safety, lessen environmental impact, and reduce traffic congestion in Colorado.

      Qualcomm Technologies also worked with leading connected vehicle and V2X technology companies in the U.S., such as Savari, Kaspch, and Ficosa, to include our C-V2X technology in their RSUs, so that the units are prepared for tomorrow’s smart transportation infrastructure deployments and 5G-enabled automated vehicles.

      Watch for C-V2X deployment in vehicles as early as late 2019
      The momentum behind C-V2X continues to build, and C-V2X is ready for deployment in vehicles as early as next year. Stay tuned for our upcoming C-V2X blog posts and announcements.

      Learn how Qualcomm Technologies is accelerating C-V2X technology adoption by visiting our C-V2X page, where you can find videos, webinars, presentations, white papers, and many other resources.

      — Maged Zaki, Director, Technical Marketing, Qualcomm Technologies Inc.

About the Author(s)

Maged Zaki

Director, Technical Marketing, Qualcomm Technologies Inc.

Maged Zaki serves as director of technical marketing for Qualcomm Technologies Inc. In this role, he is currently responsible for driving technology marketing programs around Cellular V2X, 5G, and artificial intelligence for autonomous vehicles. Zaki has more than 20 years of experience in the wireless industry, spanning technology marketing, strategy consulting and system engineering.

Prior to joining Qualcomm, Zaki worked as a strategy consultant at inCode Consulting, where he was advising mobile operators and wireless companies on their business strategy. Prior to inCode Consulting, Zaki has worked at Nortel Networks and InterDigital, where he designed 3G/4G cellular systems and Wireless LAN solutions. Zaki has more than 30 granted U.S. patents in wireless system design.

Zaki holds a Master of Engineering Science in wireless communications from the University of Western Ontario and a Masters of Business Administration from McGill University.

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