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See why the recent FCC decision to hit the accelerator on
C-V2X and slam the brakes on DSRC could mean big things for 5G and
what the auto industry should watch for moving forward.
Ads touting the benefits of 5G are everywhere these days. But if
you're not thinking about the potential value that 5G brings to the
auto industry, you should be. In late 2020, the FCC voted to
reallocate 75 MHz of spectrum that had previously been allocated
for Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) services. For
years, DSRC was viewed as a key to unlocking vehicle-to-vehicle use
cases and increasing safety features. But the FCC's decision means
slamming the brakes on DSRC and hitting the accelerator on Cellular
V2X (C-V2X) instead.
In many ways, the FCC ruling maps to the growing importance of
connectivity across other areas of our lives and communities. From
IoT applications to the promise of smart cities (and smart
vehicles!) to simply being able to stream entertainment whenever we
want to and wherever we are, connectivity is becoming a piece of
daily infrastructure as important as having good roads and
highways. 2020 saw the very first vehicles hit the road with 5G
network capability, with more than 70 brands supporting 5G by
2023.
For auto manufacturers, this increase in dependence of
connectivity brings both benefits and new potential risks. First
the benefits: 5G promises to bring greater capacity, vastly
improved speeds, and much lower latency/lag. In the context of
C-V2X applications, this will translate into increased infotainment
options, the capacity to handle more and more cars talking to one
another simultaneously, and improved safety features, all without
the fear of congestion or interruptions in service. Indeed, the
benefits of 5G make it a key cornerstone for a future where all
cars are constantly in communication with one another, with
pedestrians, and even with city and road infrastructure.
On the other hand, as dependence on and expectations for
connectivity grow, any interruption in service becomes more and
more problematic. And, like it or not, when connectivity fails,
users are likely to blame the car more than the cellular or
connectivity network itself. From this perspective, manufacturers
that create the most robust and resilient C-V2X connectivity
systems could have an important advantage moving forward.
The FCC decision splits the 75 MHz of DSRC spectrum (5.850 -
5.925 GHz) into two pieces: the upper 30 MHz will be reserved
solely for C-V2X, while the lower 45 MHz is left for unlicensed
use. At RootMetrics (IHS
Markit's mobile performance business line), we're constantly
testing not only 5G but how the various bands of spectrum
perform. The good news is that this band of 5.9 GHz spectrum should
offer both high speeds and good coverage. We'll be interested,
however, in learning whether dedicating only 30 MHz for C-V2X is
enough, particularly as our connectivity needs continue to
grow.
For more insights on 5G performance or how our connectivity
insights (including the ability to show signal strength across
all major US roadways) can help your company, contact RootMetrics
today.
Posted 08 January 2021 by Patrick Linder, Head of Marketing and Customer Experience, RootMetrics, IHS Markit
