A connected future on the road: 5G set to power safer, less congested roads by 2020

Rohit Gupta, vice president and head of manufacturing, logistics, energy & utilities, Europe at Cognizant, discusses how roads will become safer with the advent of 5G

Britain has been named among the worst in the world for its traffic congestion, with some routes now infamous for their near-constant traffic jams. While there can be many different contributing factors to congestion, one thing we know for sure is that it certainly is not helped by the lack of communication between one vehicle to the next. The good news is that, with an estimated quarter of a billion connected cars set to be on the roads by 2020, this may soon change.

In 2018, the European Commission presented its third EC Mobility Package, which sets a goal for all new vehicles to be linked to the internet by 2022. Such connectivity will allow them to ‘talk' to each other, the surrounding infrastructure and their manufacturers. This will not only work to reduce congestion but also have a hugely positive impact on reducing carbon emissions and improving road safety through the utilisation of real-time information on traffic, road accidents and environmental conditions that affect transport routes.

Moreover, public authorities will have access to fleet data on a large scale. This means cities will be in a better position to keep track of average fuel consumption, helping them achieve their cleaner city goals. As such, there is no doubt that connectivity is part of the solution to the challenges brought on by increasing urbanisation and its impact on the environment.

The EC Mobility Package hopes to make Europe a world leader in fully-autonomous, safe mobility. This will ultimately contribute to creating new jobs, an increase in economic growth and less traffic congestion, as well as new mobility solutions for the elderly and physically impaired. To do so, the Package focuses on three key pillars for the future of transport: safety, society and competitiveness.

A safer world on the roads with 5G

Perhaps the most pressing issue that the new mobility package is looking to address is road safety.

Taking an all-inclusive approach to the issue of safety on our roads, the package is designed to build in layers of protection for road users, of which 5G will be the central pillar. Infrastructure, vehicle design, speed and behaviour will all be taken into account, and with its increased speed in comparison to its predecessors, 5G will broaden the types of communications that will be supported by the network, creating greater opportunities for manufacturers.

For many who live in the UK, it is easy to imagine the difference it would make if vehicles were able to talk to each other and warn of obstacles, dangers and collisions up ahead. Such conversations are known as Vehicle-to-Vehicle connectivity (V2V), and they are enabled by 5G, allowing drivers to make informed decisions about their travel route based on real-time data. For example, Ford and Vodafone are testing connected vehicle technology that can automatically warn other drivers of accidents ahead and direct cars to create an ‘emergency corridor' for emergency vehicles. This would be especially helpful in cities where drivers often find it difficult to know where the siren is coming from.

A connected future on the road: 5G set to power safer, less congested roads by 2020

Rohit Gupta, vice president and head of manufacturing, logistics, energy & utilities, Europe at Cognizant, discusses how roads will become safer with the advent of 5G

V2V and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure offer a great opportunity for the future improvements of our road systems and safety; however, they also come with greater risks when simple day-to-day items that are taken for granted, such as traffic lights, could be hacked by cybercriminals. The more our cities become connected, the more points of contact there are for cybercriminals who could take down the whole system.

To avoid our cities falling victim to a blackout, it is of the utmost importance that manufacturers continue to develop connected vehicles with cybersecurity at the front of mind, ensuring that all points of access are airtight, with privileged access set up where necessary. While privacy concerns will be a tricky issue to navigate across all industries, cybersecurity and data management will be crucial for the development of connected vehicles, and the eventual integration of autonomous cars.

Connectivity, the gateway to opportunity

As has been stressed by the EU, safety will rightly be at the top of the agenda as the new mobility package is implemented. In doing so, 5G will also be the turning point for making journeys on the road a more enjoyable experience. Data is already playing a huge role in shaping the in-car and out-of-car experiences. From car sharing to mobility for the elderly, connected vehicles will have a significant socio-economic impact. While we are still yet to assess the long-term effects of increased connectivity and driverless mobility on the transport system, businesses and governments should carefully consider these impacts.

In the near future, data will allow new business models and revenue streams to emerge, creating a new economy for organisations through new, personalised products and services, transforming existing business models. Already, new insurance policies are on the market taking advantage of data on both the driver and the vehicle, including how often someone drives and at what time of day. With this in mind, it is going to become increasingly important that those offering traditional driver insurance think of new ways they can compete with more flexible, attractive business models to remain relevant.

There is also a significant opportunity here for manufacturers to make the most of this connectivity to maintain an open line of communication with consumers, far beyond the traditional point of sale. Since April 2018, all cars in the EU require a SIM card connected to the central processing unit (CPU), called eCall, that automatically calls emergency services in the event of a road accident.

For instance, Toyota announced in 2018 that it is investing $500 million in Uber for developing self-driving technologies as part of Toyota's wider ambition to become known as a ‘mobility company'.

Technology, and particularly 5G connectivity, is going to have a huge impact on the future of our roads and other transportation systems, but it certainly will not be able to combat the issues of congestion, pollution and road safety on its own. Connectivity is just one element in a long transition process that is leading towards embedding technology into our transport system.

With no previous experience of implementing something like the EU Mobility Package, it is down to government bodies, manufacturers and service providers to pave the way in turning these recommendations into a reality. Ultimately, these sectors and organisations need to work together to ensure the package is implemented well, with the customer at heart, because simply put, a bad connection is no better than no connection at all.