Connected Digital Transport Infrastructure
With the UK’s transport network becoming more connected, the demand for greater digital connectivity across all modes is increasing. Whether it’s the roll out of connected and automated vehicles, Wi-Fi on trains, or micromobility schemes, the future of transport will require robust and secure connectivity infrastructure.
In this new report from ITS UK, authored by Coventry University, the requirements for the future of mobility are set out in terms of the digital connectivity that will be required. The report suggests support for 5G logical slicing as a solution to the future needs of the transport sector, including for connected and automated vehicles.
The report highlights five recommendations:
- Government should incentivise Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to invest in the deployment of 5G logical slicing solutions.
- Government funding should be targeted towards initiatives that have a viable rollout/scaleup strategy of the developed technologies through R&D projects.
- Government should strike a balance between funding far-sighted initiatives, which may deliver benefits many years from now, and other initiatives, which could deliver benefits in a much shorter timescale
- The Government is invited to promote or fund the research into, and deployment of, network slicing for critical transport communications.
- Future capital investment in R&D projects investigating the technical challenges facing the successful deployment of connected transport infrastructure solutions that will power CAVs and CCAM services is required. This will require the upskilling of the workforce too.
ITS UK would like to thank the report author, Prof Prof Soufiene Djahel, Professor in CAVs,
Centre for Future Transport and Cities at Coventry University and contributors:
- Sunil Budhdeo, Transport Innovation Manager, Coventry City Council
- John Tuersley, Global Open Labs Manager, Vodafone
- Kevin Vincent, Director of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Automotive Research and the National Transport Design Centre, Coventry University
- Prof Pryce Evans, Senior Associate, Director, Jacobs
