C-V2X is a global solution for V2X communications to support improved automotive safety, automated driving, and traffic efficiency

5G Automotive Association (5GAA), Audi AG, Ford Motor and Qualcomm Technologies Inc., announced the world’s first demonstration for Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) direct communications technology operating across vehicles from different manufacturers.

C-V2X is a global solution for V2X communications to support improved automotive safety, automated driving, and traffic efficiency. It is the only V2X technology based on globally recognized 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications with ongoing evolution designed to offer forward compatibility with 5G, and leveraging upper layer protocols defined by the automotive industry, including the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) organizations.

The demonstration showcased the benefits of using C-V2X real-time direct communications on the globally harmonized 5.9 GHz ITS spectrum for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) collision avoidance and improved road safety without any dependency on cellular operator network involvement, credentials or coverage.

The organizations also unveiled initial field test results showing a significant range, reliability and performance advantage of C-V2X direct communications, with more than twice the range and improved reliability compared to 802.11p radio technology. Based on C-V2X’s potential to enhance safety and save lives, the 5GAA, Audi, Ford and Qualcomm Technologies encourage the broad automotive ecosystem to accelerate adoption of C-V2X, which is expected to be deployed as early as 2020.