When it comes to transportation, wireless connectivity is more than an amenity. With an increased focus on automation, data analytics and digital transformation of industrial processes, transportation companies are looking to new alternatives to support connected and autonomous vehicle deployments, expand use cases supported by vehicle data, and improve the overall passenger experience.
The U.S. transportation system works to meet the demands of more than 326 million U.S. residents and around 75 million foreign visitors annually. It also drives our economy, connecting over 7.6 million business establishments with customers, suppliers, and workers. These numbers show just how impactful increased transportation efficiency can be - not only for daily transit users, but also for the country’s economic future.
The Future of Transportation
The transportation sector is ripe for disruption, specifically when it comes to technologies that can improve overall efficiency and ROI. When we talk about connected cars and other forms of next-generation transportation, there’s a misconception that they will require a level of connectivity beyond what’s currently available. While 5G may pave the way for an even greater technology advances, the fact is that the next phase of transportation – including autonomous vehicles – will require a mix of both wireless broadband and efficient IoT networks.
Another aspect of next generation transportation that relies heavily on wireless connectivity is wireless vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology. V2X leverages existing wireless networks to facilitate the exchange of data among traffic elements, such as vehicles, networks, roadside infrastructures, businesses and pedestrians. By establishing radio link connections, V2X supports safe, efficient and environmentally conscious transportation, and paves the way to connected and autonomous driving.
High quality connectivity also supports enhanced driver and passenger experiences via the availability of real time data to the cloud. Everything from providing drivers and passengers with information on nearby businesses they might find useful to real time monitoring of vehicle performance to support maintenance is enabled via robust V2X connectivity. There are an incredible number of new opportunities and use cases that will be supported by ready access to vehicle data.
The Need for LTE
Many commercial and industrial transportation organizations are exploring IoT solutions to drive productivity, automation and cost-savings within their business. Automation in the transportation industry touches all phases of development, manufacturing, deployment and operations. These trends create a need for high-performance wireless connectivity to control and collect data. Some organizations have utilized Wi-Fi to automate their connected equipment, but while this has proven to be an inexpensive and readily available option, it can lack the needed reliability and robustness.
Private LTE networks, on the other hand, have earned a reputation for being reliable and highly secure. Lower frequency networks – including today's LTE– provide ample coverage to support essential use cases, like real-time data transfer for autonomous transportation. However, because of the lack of available wireless spectrum, LTE hasn’t been viewed as a viable option for most organizations – until now.
No Spectrum, No Options
The last barrier for organizations in the transportation sector to deploy their own private LTE networks has been access to spectrum. Currently, transportation operators and manufacturers without access to wireless spectrum have few options at their disposal to bring adequate wireless coverage to their facilities.
Traditionally, spectrum has been made available to the highest bidder through an FCC-managed public auction, but through the shared spectrum model, more companies have the ability to access swaths of unencumbered connectivity. One new technology that will be made available through shared spectrum is OnGoTM, which offers a secure LTE network that can be used by seaports, container terminals, airports, railways, logistic hubs and warehouses to help drive their digital transformation initiatives.
The Time Is Now
In 2019 and beyond, the transportation sector will look to shared spectrum to provide the kind of secure wireless network that’s needed to control and collect data, increase automation and improve productivity. Organizations like the CBRS Alliance believe that access to shared spectrum will spark new opportunities for transportation innovation that hinge upon access to connectivity.
In October 2018, the FCC made a monumental ruling finalizing how spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band will be used. Now, the industry is preparing for “initial commercial deployments” in Q2 2019. That means in the very near future, transit hubs across the U.S. will be able to access networks that are as simple as Wi-Fi, as secure and high-performing as traditional LTE networks, and are more cost effective than traditional cellular networks. Through the use of shared spectrum, organizations in the transportation sector can own their own private networks, enabling increased automation, improved productivity and more efficient collection and analysis of transportation data.
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Alan Ewing is the Executive Director of the CBRS Alliance, an industry consortium of more than 120 wireless and telecom organizations who believe that LTE-based solutions in the 3.5 GHz band, utilizing shared spectrum, can enable both in-building and outdoor coverage and capacity expansion at massive scale.
