The Baltic Corridor is already a reality. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have signed a memorandum to develop the 'North Baltic Way', to expand the 5G network between states and develop a cross-border corridor where self-propelled vehicles could be tested. This agreement will be added to the 5G cross-border corridors that already exist (among others, Oporto-Vigo and Evora-Mérida, Portugal and Spain).
As the European Commission advanced, Europe is currently the largest experimental area in 5G technology, and is working on large-scale testing and automated mobility and 5G infrastructure extension. The tests of this kind of vehicles will be carried out at the third level of automation between 5 of the SAE (Sociedad de Ingenieros Automotrices).
What is a 5G Corridor?
The 5G Corridor Concept sets an infrastructure for the entire coverage of the route, in cross-border cooperation. Transport cars and vehicles may use the 5G network to exchange data with the roadside informations, including sensors, other vehicle data and road management instructions for weather, traffic and event reports.
In this way, trying to maximize the 5G transport data capacity, users can get real-time information on what's happening on the road, as well as a steady flow of data and enough for other uses, such as news, entertainment streaming, connection and video games online, available for different vehicle occupants.
The goal is to create a transport infrastructure in the medium term, fully connected and safe for self-propelled vehicles, without drivers. This includes the circulation of goods and tourism, in a geographical area where climatic conditions are very hard in a wide and specific period of time.
The first intelligent transport system in the cross border coincides with the idea of the European Gigabit Society, proposed by the European Commission, as part of the Single Digital Market (the regulatory framework that last year for mobile roaming was revoked). The first idea is to get Gigabit connections in all urban areas, on the main roads and on the railway lines.
Three Baltic States co-operation process requires the exchange of knowledge to create a better network. The project will be financed by European infrastructural programs and future 5G corridors will begin to develop from 2015.
5G cars
Now it is necessary to start manufacturing these cars that are connected to their sensors, which will have a 5G connection and those that will be the first to benefit from this. Then, robotic cars will come, who can walk the way without human drivers.
In order to promote the extension of 5G corridors, the 5G Infrastructure Public Private Partnership is launched with a funding of 50 million euros for autonomous mobility projects and connected to specific cross-border corridors: Bologna-Munich (Italy, Austria and Germany), Metz-Merzing-Luxembourg (France , Germany and Luxembourg) and Spain-Portugal.
Additionally, the European Commission has proposed increasing public money for 5G corridors through Europe Connect Mechanism (CEF) with 3,000 million through Horizon 2020. The recently launched 5G European Observatory Platform will monitor the 5G Action Plan in Europe and set up public-private cooperation initiatives in the 5G area.