- 5G network based C-V2X will be implemented rapidly in India.
V2X Technology: Now a big change can be seen in India towards making road transport more safe and smart. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released a consultation paper on April 30 presenting the framework for Vehicle-to-Everything i.e. V2X communication. The purpose of this technology is to enable real-time data sharing between vehicles, road infrastructure, pedestrians and the network. At present this proposal is under discussion but it clearly indicates that the country is moving towards an intelligent transport system.
Why is V2X important for road safety?
According to media reports, road accidents remain a big problem in India. According to government data, about 1.73 lakh people died in road accidents in 2023, many of which occur due to human error such as late reaction, miscalculation of distance or low visibility. The purpose of V2X technology is to reduce these human shortcomings so that the vehicle itself can understand the surrounding situation and give timely warning.
How does V2X work?
V2X is a system in which vehicles continuously share information about their surroundings such as their speed, location and movement. This data is not limited to other vehicles only, but also reaches traffic signals, roadside sensors, pedestrians and cloud systems. Its purpose is to create a network in which everything present on the road remains aware of each other’s activities.
There are four main parts of this technique. First, vehicles can talk to each other to avoid collisions. Secondly, they can improve traffic flow by connecting to infrastructure such as traffic lights and toll systems. Thirdly, it can send alerts to pedestrians in case of danger. And fourth, vehicles can connect to the cloud through mobile networks to receive real-time updates and traffic information.
Why is the role of telecom network important?
Today’s modern cars have sensors like cameras, radar and LiDAR, but they can only see what is visible in front. V2X overcomes this limitation and also provides information over long distances. This is why the role of telecom network becomes very important in this.
This technology is now moving towards Cellular V2X i.e. C-V2X which is based on 4G and 5G networks. This not only makes direct contact between vehicles possible but also allows data transfer over long distances in a short time through the network.
Viewpoint of different countries of the world
The method of adopting V2X is different in every country. In Europe, efforts are being made to integrate new technologies with the old DSRC system, which sometimes leads to interoperability problems. China has rapidly implemented this system by adopting C-V2X from the beginning and its use has started on a large scale there.
America has also gradually turned towards C-V2X where it is being taken forward through pilot projects. Automobile companies like Ford and Audi are working on this technology. Whereas Tesla has adopted a different path and has relied more on sensors and cloud data in its vehicles.
What is India’s plan?
A big advantage that India has in adopting this technology is that it is not burdened with the old system. The government can move directly towards new and advanced technology. Work is going on towards adopting C-V2X in the country and it is being planned to use 5.9 GHz spectrum band for this.
Initially the focus will be on communication between vehicles so that immediate safety benefits can be achieved. Later it will be connected with traffic signals, road infrastructure and smart systems in cities. It is proposed to keep the devices installed in the vehicle license free, while permission will be required for the systems installed on the roadside.
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