For the first time worldwide, the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) showcased connected vehicles using non-terrestrial networks (NTN) for emergency messaging, as well as 5G-V2X Direct for advanced detection of vulnerable road users (VRU) in real-traffic conditions. 5GAA members also demonstrated the readily available capabilities of Vehicle-to-Network (V2N) services.
5GAA members, vehicle manufacturers BMW Group and Stellantis and technology partners Anritsu, Cubic³, Deutsche Telekom, HARMAN, Jember, LG Electronics, Qualcomm Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz, Rolling Wireless, Skylo, VEDECOM Institute and Viasat demonstrated NTN satellite connectivity. Demonstrations focused respectively on realizing in-vehicle integration of hazard warning and emergency messaging use cases, as well as illustrating that NTN complements terrestrial 4G and 5G networks in the future.
Demonstrations on public roads emphasized the vision of how NTN can support ubiquitous automotive connectivity for connected services. The seamless in-vehicle integration and seamlessly switching between NTN and terrestrial networks to enable voice communication, was highlighted as well. Car drivers may in the future not even realize that satellite connectivity is established instead of using a terrestrial network.
According to 5GAA 2030 Roadmap, the initial market deployment of satellite connectivity in vehicles is expected by 2027 (based on IoT NTN 3GPP Release 17).
Anritsu, Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz, and MediaTek complemented the NTN demonstrations with parallel test equipment measurements for performance verification. For the first time on the road, 5GAA member Valeo, in collaboration with Marben, demonstrated 5G-V2X Direct, in which two vehicles shared sensor data, triggering a warning of a pedestrian crossing at an obstructed intersection.
This demonstration illustrated how 5G-V2X Direct (based on 3GPP Release 16) will enable vulnerable road users advanced protection by leveraging sensors and camera feeds from other vehicles to alert drivers, paving the way for smarter mobility. As per the 5GAA Visionary 2030 Roadmap, 5G-V2X is expected to be mass-deployed in commercial vehicle models starting from the time horizon 2026-2029.
The public road demonstrations continued with the use of V2N technology for road users’ protection. 5GAA members, including Nokia, Orange, Stellantis, Valeo, and VEDECOM Institute, showcased interoperable V2X Platforms with vehicles, mobile applications and smart intersections (equipped with cameras and connected via the 5G networks) sharing collective perception to enhance road users’ safety.
Additionally, HARMAN and u-blox showcased Emergency Electronic Brake Light (EEBL) near-real-time alerts to prevent hard braking events, in line with the upcoming 2026 Euro NCAP local hazard requirements, and made use of precise positioning to prevent false alerts.
