Two standards used today are Dedicated Short
Range Communications (DSRC) and Wireless Access in
Vehicular Environments (WAVE). They are likely more
complicated than an integrated global 5G system would
be, but DSRC and WAVE have been in development for
close to 20 years and are, therefore, far better developed
and established.
The FCC allocated 75 MHz of spectrum in the 5.9
GHz band (5850-5925 MHz) for DSRC in 1999. This
is part of the U-NII bands; above those bands used by
802.11ac and reserved specifically for the automotive and
FIGURE 6: Vehicle to Everything (V2X). Courtesy of NXP.
highway safety and road commissions. DSRC systems
communicate using a variation on the common IEEE
802.11 protocols. This variation, referred to as WAVE, is
specified in IEEE 802.11p–2010. Like 802.11ac, though
modified slightly, it currently cannot talk directly with
802.11ac because it is at a different frequency. The IEEE
is looking at how to use this additional 5.9 GHz band
without diminishing its future capacities for V2V and
V2I. For now, it is unclear what the path will be for direct
communications with home and business Wi-Fi systems.
This is where 5G comes in. A competing standard
has recently been completed called Long Term Evolution-
Vehicle to Everything (LTE-V2X), shown in Figure 6.
V2X was developed primarily by the China
Communications Standards Association (CCSA), which
has a very large global following because it utilizes the
massive existing infrastructures of cellular providers
worldwide. This may provide a much more rapid
adoption of V2X development, which in turn will
speed up the development of the autonomous vehicle.
14 I ICT TODAY
However, current 4G networks around the world may
not be capable of the additional burden V2X may add.
Nevertheless, testing continues using 4G, knowing that
a widespread 5G deployment could greatly enhance
the economics of the autonomous vehicle market. The
downside is that the cellular carriers would now own
the connectivity, rather than highway authorities and
automakers. A subject for another day.
SUMMARY
The wireless world has dramatically changed how people
function and will continue to change everyday lives at
home, in school, at work, and at play. This article only
scratches the surface on the many different standards,
technologies and methodologies that shape this
industry, and there are many more on the horizon that
could cause a shift in any of those that preceded them.
The technologies discussed herein are based on radio
frequency systems; however there is a ton of development
occurring using infrared, ultraviolet, and even visible
light not contained in a piece of glass (Google LiFi). A
year from now, this article could be very out of date. For
ICT professionals, trying to keep up with technology is
vital, but it is not necessarily easy. Nothing worthwhile
ever is.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Chris Scharrer, RCDD, NTS, OSP,
CTS is the owner of DCS Technology Design, LLC. He has over
40 years of industry experience and has received international
recognition for his work. He is the current U.S. North-Central
Regional Director for BICSI and a contributor for many
publications and curriculums. He also sits on the Editorial Review
Board for ICT Today. Chris can be reached at cscharrer@bicsi.org.
Note: Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance;
Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
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