On the Seamless Integration of C-ITS and Cellular Ecosystems

Abstract

The widespread expansion, adoption, and advanced capabilities of 5G and beyond networks make these systems promising platforms for supporting Cooperative Intelligent Transportation Systems (C-ITS), which have traditionally relied on IEEE 802.11p-based solutions. However, achieving a smooth integration between cellular and vehicular ecosystems remains a challenge due to their different protocol stacks and operation procedures. So far, this integration has been accomplished by introducing complex, ad-hoc adaptations within the cellular architecture to accommodate C-ITS communications and services. This work proposes and implements a fully-integrated architecture that enables seamless operation of C-ITS functionalities within existing cellular infrastructures. The proposed solution is validated through deployment in a 5G network, demonstrating native C-ITS communication between vehicular end-points using the cellular system as the underlying transport. The results confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of the approach, leading to a reduction over 95% of the traffic load in the supporting infrastructure, hence paving the way for unified and scalable C-ITS deployments in future smart transportation environments.