Vodafone’s 5G Connectivity Enables Europe’s First Connected and Intelligent Bus

Vodafone’s 5G Connectivity Enables Europe’s First Connected and Intelligent Bus

(IN BRIEF) Vodafone has connected Europe’s first smart and connected bus to 5G in collaboration with Zaragoza City Council in Spain. The electric bus is equipped with a driving assistance system that automates acceleration, braking, and steering, without driver intervention. The bus communicates in real-time with city infrastructure using Vodafone’s 5G connectivity, helping it to detect obstacles and improve energy efficiency and passenger comfort. The Digizity project aims to create a zero-emissions city and promote sustainable mobility through innovative solutions in public transport, financed by the European Union’s Next Generation funds through the Sustainable Automotive Technology Plan. This intelligent bus is expected to improve mobility, safety, and accessibility in remote neighbourhoods by reducing the risk of accidents and helping to plan routes and schedules.

(PRESS RELEASE) BERKSHIRE, 31-Mar-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Vodafone (LON: VOD), a British multinational leader in technology communications, announces that it has connected Europe’s first smart and connected bus to 5G in collaboration with Zaragoza City Council in Spain. As part of the council’s Digizity project, the electric bus has already completed its first journey through the streets of the Aragonese city, providing safe transportation for passengers.

Designed and managed by Avanza, the bus is equipped with a driving assistance system that automates acceleration, braking, and steering without driver intervention. The bus can communicate in real-time with city infrastructure, including buildings and other vehicles, thanks to Vodafone’s 5G connectivity. The bus is also equipped with cameras, light detection and ranging systems, and sensors to detect obstacles on the road and improve energy efficiency and passenger comfort.

The Digizity project aims to promote sustainable mobility through innovative solutions in public transport and create a zero-emissions city. The project is financed by the European Union’s Next Generation funds through the Sustainable Automotive Technology Plan.

This intelligent bus is expected to improve mobility, safety, and accessibility in the city’s remote neighbourhoods by reducing the risk of accidents and helping to plan routes and schedules.

The Roadmap to Full Autonomy: Overcoming Regulatory and Ecosystem Challenges

As the capabilities of autonomous cars, trains, and buses are tested successfully across Europe, the next step is to fulfill regulatory requirements for autonomous transport. One key issue is determining liability if the machine is driving.

Another challenge is creating a more integrated ecosystem that allows different brands, car manufacturers, and infrastructure to communicate seamlessly. To address this challenge, Vodafone has developed the STEP platform. This platform connects road users with each other and with transport authorities, enabling the real-time sharing of safety information, hazard warnings, and traffic updates across different devices and in-vehicle systems.

By overcoming these regulatory and ecosystem challenges, we can accelerate the adoption of autonomous transport and realize the potential benefits of increased safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

Find out more about how driverless transport works, by watching Danny Kelly, Head of Innovation at Vodafone UK, chat to Simon Brewerton, Chief Technology Officer at autonomous vehicle maker Aurrigo:

Media contact:
GroupMedia@vodafone.com

SOURCE: Vodafone Group Plc.