The 5GAA showed off connected cars using non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology for lifesaving operations.
NTN (i.e. satellites) were used for sending emergency messages, critical for breakdowns or incidents that could be miles from the nearest mobile tower. But it wasn’t just about reaching for the stars.
Back on terra firma, the 5GAA also put 5G-V2X Direct technology through its paces in real-world traffic. This gives vehicles the ability to detect vulnerable road users (VRUs), such as pedestrians and cyclists, in advance.
Christoph Voigt, Chairman of 5GAA, said: “Today, we saw real vehicles on real roads, connected through cutting-edge technologies such as satellite, 5G-V2X Direct and commercial networks.
“This is the future of automotive connectivity, and it’s closer than you think.”
Calling for help from space
The NTN satellite connectivity demonstrations were a collaborative effort, bringing together car giants like BMW and Stellantis, shoulder-to-shoulder with tech specialists including Anritsu, Cubic³, Deutsche Telekom, HARMAN, Jember, LG, Qualcomm, Rohde & Schwarz, Rolling Wireless, Skylo, VEDECOM Institute, and Viasat.
The partners set out to prove that integrating satellite tech for hazard warnings and emergency messages into vehicles is perfectly feasible. More than that, they wanted to show how NTN will complement existing 4G and 5G terrestrial networks, filling in those frustrating coverage gaps.
One neat trick demonstrated by the 5GAA members was connected cars seamless switching between satellite and traditional mobile networks for voice calls. The idea is that, in the future, you, as the driver, might not even realise your car has hopped onto a satellite link to keep your call going or send out an SOS. It just works.
Kevin Cohen, VP of Direct to Device Partnerships at Viasat, commented: “The future of satellite-connected cars means real-life benefits. Passengers could make emergency calls from areas outside of cellular coverage. Vehicles could send automated alerts and provide their location after a collision. Calls could stay connected, wherever drivers go. Businesses could track fleets in real time.
“By bringing our L-band satellite coverage and licensed spectrum and working across the automotive ecosystem, connected transport can help everyone operate more safely and efficiently.”
The 5GAA has laid out a roadmap, and according to their 2030 vision, we can expect to see the first wave of satellite connectivity in cars around 2027, built on the IoT NTN 3GPP Release 17 standard.
The unsung heroes of these demonstrations are often the testing and measurement folks. Anritsu, Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz, and MediaTek were on hand with their sophisticated kit, providing the essential performance verification.
Adnan Khan, Director of Advanced Technology Marketing at Anritsu’s CTO Office, explained: “Accurate and reliable field measurements are fundamental to validating performance and supporting the deployment of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).
“Our advanced test and measurement solutions have been instrumental in capturing critical KPIs of various automotive use cases across real-world NTN environments—empowering industry stakeholders with actionable insights to drive innovation and advance the future of NTN connectivity.”
5GAA members give connected cars a sixth sense
What really caught my eye, though, was the 5G-V2X Direct demonstration by Valeo, working alongside Marben. They had two vehicles on the road sharing sensor data. This allowed one car to warn the other about a pedestrian stepping out at a blind junction—a classic “didn’t see them coming” scenario.
This is the power of 5G-V2X Direct (built on 3GPP Release 16). It effectively gives cars an extra set of eyes and ears, using data from other vehicles to alert drivers to dangers they can’t yet see.
It’s a massive step forward for protecting vulnerable road users. The 5GAA reckons this tech will start appearing in mass-produced cars sometime between 2026 and 2029.
The demonstrations didn’t stop there. V2N technology was also in the spotlight, showing how cars can communicate with the wider network for everyone’s benefit. Big names joined forces to showcase how interoperable V2X platforms can work.
The potential of interoperable V2X is for cars, mobile apps, and even smart intersections (think traffic lights with cameras, all hooked up via 5G) to share what they “see.” This collective perception builds a much richer, real-time picture of the road environment to boost safety.
Meanwhile, HARMAN and u-blox were busy demonstrating Emergency Electronic Brake Light (EEBL) alerts.
EEBL alerts are near-instant warnings designed to prevent those hard-braking moments. It’s technology that’s directly in line with the upcoming 2026 Euro NCAP local hazard requirements – so, very relevant. A smart touch here was the use of precise positioning to cut down on annoying false alarms.
The 5GAA and its members are not just talking about the future; they’re actively building it, developing new standards that will make our journeys safer and our vehicles far more intelligent, both here in Europe and right across the globe.
(Image credit: 5GAA)
See also: Snowflake steers towards automotive AI innovation
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