Connected automotive concept. Photo: Viasat

Viasat has joined the 5G Automotive Association, known as 5GAA, a cross-industry organization focused on future mobility and transportation services. 5GAA works on applications like supporting fully autonomous cars, real-time supply chain tracking, safety systems, and predicative maintenance alerts. 

Viasat is working on an ecosystem of direct-to-device chipset manufacturers, MNOs, and OEMs to use its global mobile satellite services (MSS) network, and sees potential for the auto industry here. Viasat aims to bring its direct-to-device expertise to the organization and contribute to how satellite will fit into the concept of C-V2X — ‘cellular vehicle-to-everything.’ 

C-V2X is the concept of a connected mobility platform that allows vehicles to interact with their surroundings including other vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, road infrastructure, or mobile networks. The concept aims to unify communications between vehicles, infrastructure, pedestrians, and networks. 

“By utilizing already licensed L-band spectrum for mobile satellite services, vehicles could roam between space and ground network connectivity,” commented Kevin Cohen, vice president of Direct to Device Partnerships for Viasast. “With satellites helping to power a unified connectivity ecosystem, vehicles could automatically and autonomously work with each other and central management platforms to operate more safely, sustainably, and efficiently.”

5GAA is interested in integrating satellite connectivity into the connected vehicle ecosystem as a complement to terrestrial networks to address coverage gaps. The organization released a technical report in September, outlining what this would look like, recognizing there is a “significant opportunity” to expand coverage with satellite.