South Korea Chooses C-V2X as Vehicle-to-Everything Communication Method

South Korea has chosen Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) as its primary communication method for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology. This strategic decision will pave the way for enhanced road safety and efficient traffic management across the country.

LTE-V2X: South Korea’s Chosen Communication Standard

Specifically, South Korea will implement LTE-V2X (PC5/Sidelink), a communication standard developed and standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in 2016. This technology uses direct device-to-device communication (PC5) in the 5.9 GHz band, which operates without relying on network communication. It is considered the current industry standard for V2X communication, allowing for low-latency and highly reliable communication between vehicles and infrastructure.

Strengthening Global Competitiveness in the V2X Market

By adopting LTE-V2X, South Korea will join numerous other regions that have already chosen C-V2X as their communication method. This decision not only strengthens South Korea's competitiveness in the V2X market, but also helps foster a more unified global approach to Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) development and deployment.

A Pivotal Moment for Connected Mobility

As a V2X solution provider based in South Korea, we fully support the government’s decision. It represents a significant milestone for the connected mobility industry, demonstrating South Korea's commitment to advancing C-ITS and improving transportation safety and efficiency nationwide.

Key Considerations for LTE-V2X Deployment

While the decision to deploy LTE-V2X is a major step forward, there are some important points to consider:

LTE-V2X vs. 5G-V2X: LTE-V2X is the current standard, with 5G-V2X set to be the next-generation standard. However, LTE-V2X and 5G-V2X are not interoperable.
Future-proofing the Infrastructure: When building infrastructure with LTE-V2X, a complete upgrade to 5G-V2X will require replacing all existing LTE-V2X equipment. This can lead to unnecessary redundancy and additional investment costs in the near future.
The Risk of Redundant Investment: Without a clear roadmap for 5G-V2X integration, the deployment of LTE-V2X could result in redundant investment in just a few years as the technology continues to evolve.

Future-Proofing V2X Ecosystems

To avoid the challenges of redundant investments and ensure long-term viability, we propose a software-defined modem (SDM)-based V2X solution. This innovative solution allows for over-the-air software upgrades from LTE-V2X to 5G-V2X without requiring the replacement of existing equipment. This approach ensures that South Korea’s V2X infrastructure remains future-proof and adaptable to technological advancements.

For more information about this solution, please contact pr@ettifos.com.

About Ettifos:

Founded in 2018, Ettifos is a 5G-focused V2X solutions provider invested in enabling the most advanced smart city/smart intersection deployments and connected vehicles (CV) technology.

The company supplies innovative and versatile OBU and RSU systems tailored to customers’ specific project and service requirements, with the vision of connecting all entities in motion to create a world with safer, smarter, and more efficient roads.