A new Smart Mobility Consortium has been formed by the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), Hong Kong Telecom (HKT), Huawei Technologies Co., and Qualcomm Technologies Inc., to work together to build a smart mobility system for Hong Kong using cellular-vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technologies.
As one of the most ‘connected’ cities in the world and a major global financial hub, Hong Kong is an ideal place to pioneer the implementation of a smart mobility system that can showcase the technology’s ability to improve road safety. The vibrancy of Hong Kong’s transport sector is evident from the 10 million-plus daily passenger journeys using the city’s public and private transport system. The city’s robust telecommunications infrastructure, as well as the high-adoption rate of digital technologies, will provide a strong foundation for the immense potential of a smart mobility ecosystem. The project will support the government’s plan to transform Hong Kong into a smart city, using the collective strengths of the four companies to exploit the potential of C-V2X technologies to improve mobility and logistics.
The C-V2X technologies, based upon the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) release 14 specification, with an evolution path toward 5G, will operate through both network-based communications on commercial cellular infrastructure and direct communications over the 5.9GHz DSRC (dedicated short-range communications) waveband. A C-V2X powered smart mobility system not only allows vehicles to connect to the cloud, but also enables them to communicate with one another (V2V), as well as with pedestrians (V2P), and to synchronize with infrastructure (V2I). With C-V2X, ‘co-operative awareness’ between vehicles, pedestrians and the roadside environment will enhance road safety, as well as help support future autonomous driving systems. The C-V2X system will also provide benefits to the city’s law enforcement, traffic, transit, and urban management agencies, allowing them to plan and monitor the safe and efficient movement of vehicles.
In Hong Kong, over 60% of all road accidents involve V2V or V2P collisions, with over 40% of cyclist casualties involving accidents on or around carriageways. The consortium aims to use C-V2X to introduce a series of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) in Hong Kong, including a warning mechanism for collision and control, assistance for cruise control and parking, and alert systems for speed and lane violations. The ITS will also help drivers and traffic administrators to identify potential risks at road intersections, pedestrian crossings, and traffic queues.
The multi-year project is expected to involve a dedicated team of experts from different areas, including consortium members, government, the automobile industry, and other relevant industry stakeholders, to help accelerate the transformation of Hong Kong’s transportation system into a truly state-of-the-art ecosystem. On its successful completion and roll-out, the project is expected to lead to further opportunities for related sectors including logistics, ride-sharing, home-delivery, insurance, and healthcare, with the technology available for deployment in other cities across the region.
