South Korea has chosen Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) as its V2X communication method.
Specifically, the country will use LTE-V2X (PC5/Sidelink) which was standardized by the 3GPP in 2016, and uses direct device-to-device communication (PC5) in the 5.9 GHz band without the necessity of network communication.
When complete, Korea will be joining a number of other regions in using C-V2X as its communication method, not only strengthening the country's competitiveness in the V2X market, but also allowing for a more unified global approach to C-ITS development and deployment.
As a V2X solution provider based in South Korea, we support the decision that has been made by the Korean Government and believe it is a pivotal moment for connected mobility.
By choosing a single communication method, the Government has shown its acknowledgment of V2X technology and commitment to C-ITS.
Following the decision, we would like to highlight that:
Within C-V2X, LTE-V2X is the current standard and 5G-V2X is the next generation standard
LTE-V2X and 5G-V2X are not interoperable
When building infrastructure with LTE-V2X, upgrading or switching to 5G-V2X will require all LTE-V2X equipment to be replaced entirely
If LTE-V2X is deployed without a clear roadmap including 5G-V2X, there will be another redundant investment problem in a few years
Therefore, we hope the Government will take the necessary steps to ensure that the solutions chosen for deployment will account for the future of the technology.
To aid with future proofing, Ettifos proposes a software-defined modem (SDM)-based V2X solution that can be software upgradable from LTE-V2X to 5G-V2X over-the-air without equipment replacement.
For more information regarding this solution, please contact pr@ettifos.com.