Government Takes First Step in Demonstration Project for 'Autonomous Vehicle Core Technology Standards'

Next-Generation Intelligent Transportation System Pilot Project Frequency Allocation Plan Confirmed

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] The government has taken its first step in the demonstration project for the ‘core technology standards of autonomous vehicles.’

On the 16th, the Ministry of Science and ICT finalized the ‘frequency allocation plan for the next-generation intelligent transportation system (C-ITS) pilot project’ after gathering opinions from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. ‘C-ITS’ is a road communication infrastructure that enables vehicles to share and respond to traffic hazard information in advance through communication between vehicles and between vehicles and roads. Since August last year, when the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Land decided to promote a pilot project for various communication methods, they have failed to find common ground due to different standards. The Ministry of Science and ICT and the telecommunications and automobile industries are in favor of setting the standard based on mobile communication technology (LTE-V2X), which offers high data transmission speed and usability, whereas the Ministry of Land insists on the short-range dedicated communication technology (WAVE).

Accordingly, the government decided to proceed with pilot projects for both technologies. The Ministry of Science and ICT comprehensively reviewed frequency utilization efficiency, international trends, usage safety, and protection of existing users to finalize the allocation plan. The finalized allocation plan divides the 70 MHz bandwidth (5855?5925 MHz) supplied for C-ITS into a lower 20 MHz bandwidth for mobile communication-based technology and an upper 30 MHz bandwidth for short-range dedicated communication technology. Additionally, the remaining 20 MHz bandwidth will be set as a guard band to be used for next-generation C-ITS technology development such as vehicle-to-everything communication (5G-V2X).

Choi Woo-hyuk, Director of the Radio Policy Bureau, said, "With the frequency allocation plan finalized, the foundation has been laid to proceed with pilot projects for both C-ITS technologies," adding, "We plan to continue inter-ministerial cooperation to achieve the policy goals of C-ITS, including the world’s first commercialization of fully autonomous driving in 2027 and the enhancement of traffic safety."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.