Qualcomm also supports allocation of full 75 megahertz for C-V2X
Last year the U.S. Federal Communications Commission floated a notice of proposed rulemaking that would reallocate 75 megahertz of the 5.9 GHz band for C-V2X and unlicensed use with 45 megahertz going for unlicensed uses like Wi-Fi, the upper 20 megahertz for C-V2X and the remaining 10 megahertz for either DSRC or C-V2X, based on public and industry feedback.
In terms of submitted comment, this has been a particularly active proceeding with industry groups, governmental organizations, technology companies and automotive manufacturers weighing in on how the valuable spectrum should be divvied.
More than 20 years ago, the FCC allocated 75 megahertz of spectrum in the 5.9 GHz band for a technology called Dedicated Short-Range Communications, or DSRC. However, DSRC, which was designed to facilitate motor vehicle-related communications, was never widely deployed. In December Pai said the DSRC spectrum allocation resulted in “two decades of dormancy.”
In a Jan. 10 letter to Pai from four members of Congress, representatives Jerry McNerney, Billy Long, Anna Eshoo and John Shimkus, wrote, “We believe that it is time to revisit the allocation of this valuable spectrum to ensure it is being put to the most efficient use. The Commission’s proposal…will allow this spectrum to continue to be used for its original purpose while supporting the growing demand for Wi-Fi and 5G services across the nation.”
Now, arguably one of the most important stakeholders in this process, the U.S. Department of Transportation, has communicated to the FCC that it supports not just reallocation of 5.9 GHz for C-V2X but reallocation of all 75 megahertz for C-V2X.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, on behalf of DOT, on March 13 submitted comments to the FCC regarding the notice of proposed rulemaking regarding 5.9 GHz. Citing federal statistics, DoT said in 2018 there were more than 6 million vehicle crashes reported to police, with 36,650 deaths, 2.7 million lives lost, significant reported property damage, $300 billion in direct costs and $800 billion in total costs, including both direct and indirect expenses.
As such, “The preservation of the entire 5.9 GHz band for V2X communications offers the nation an advantage for maintaining and extending leadership in the deployment of innovative V2X applications, including those related to automation. However, these safety innovations and improvements may be lost should the Commission proceed with its proposed reallocation of the 5.9 GHz band. Reducing the spectrum available for V2X communications from 75 [megahertz]to 30 [megahertz], and then further dividing that 30 [megahertz]between two communication technologies, will reduce the utility of V2X by severely limiting the amount and type of messages that can be sent at any one time. Such a restriction will also hamper the future development of cooperative automated driving systems, given their expected spectrum needs.”
Prior to DoT’s submission on March 9, Qualcomm’s SVP of Spectrum Strategy and Technology Policy Dean Brenner and John Kuzin, VP and Regulatory Counsel, submitted comments to the FCC also pushing reallocation of all the available 5.9 GHz spectrum to C-V2X. Qualcomm was instrumental in the development of C-V2X as an LTE technology and has worked through the 3GPP standards-setting organization and in conjunction with automotive OEMs and other ecosystem players to advance the tech to 5G-V2X. And, in that case, more spectrum is needed for more advanced applications.
From Qualcomm’s comments: “Beyond the minimum of 20 [megahertz]required to support C-V2X basic safety applications in the upper portion of the 5.9 GHz band, at least another 40 [megahertz](ideally 55 [megahertz]) of spectrum is needed for advanced 5G-based C-V2X roadway safety applications, including automated and coordinated driving. These new applications…require each vehicle to continuously share with other nearby vehicles and roadway infrastructure a constant stream of information on its ever-changing surroundings and desired trajectory, as well as information on other roadway users who may be in harm’s way but not equipped with C-V2X capabilities.”
To keep up with all the comments submitted to the FCC on 5.9 GHz, bookmark this page.
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