From intelligent vehicles to seamless communication between road users and infrastructure, the transformation of mobility systems is accelerating.
This transition to total vehicle automation is being enabled by global standards that lay the foundation for modern vehicular communications and intelligent transport systems (ITS).
International collaboration is key to set the standards for the advanced connectivity solutions required to enable automated driving, improve road safety, optimize traffic flow, and support transport sustainability.
A blueprint for intelligent transport ecosystems
A new decision at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) aims to promote and strengthen collaborative work on standards for vehicular communications.
WTSA Resolution 104 – adopted at ITU’s latest World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-24) in October 2024 in New Delhi, India – provides a guiding framework for this key emerging technology field.
Resolutions endorsed by ITU’s 194 member states (including those at WTSA) reflect global consensus on critical issues for telecommunication and technology development.
New mobility systems can prevent accidents, reduce fatalities and enable smart traffic management. Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies are also expected to improve traffic flow, reduce carbon emissions, and enable infrastructure upgrades to boost the digital economy.
But the development of V2X, connected and automated vehicles (CAV), and intelligent transport systems (ITS) requires complex technical and policy collaboration spanning the automotive, transportation, telecom and tech industries, along with the electronics, energy and security sectors.
WTSA Resolution 104 provides a framework for ITU to collaborate with other standards-development organizations, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and other stakeholders.
Since 2018, ITU has facilitated cooperation through the Collaboration on ITS Communication Standards (CITS), an open platform supporting internationally coordinated systems and standardization.
Future Networked Car Symposium 2025
Another opportunity for collaboration is the upcoming 20th Future Networked Car Symposium (FNC-2025).
The event, now a fully virtual format, brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to address key challenges and opportunities related to automated mobility. It focuses on vehicular connectivity, sustainability, and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in automated and safe transport.
Between 24 and 27 March, FNC-2025 will examine regulatory advances in road safety, the status of remotely driven vehicles, opportunities presented by automotive satellite-cellular connectivity, and recent achievements of the CITS Expert Group on Communications Technology for Automated Driving.
Organized by ITU and UNECE, the symposium will facilitate in-depth conversations, providing insights into how governments and industries can collaborate to build trustworthy and resilient digital driving systems.
To be part of this conversation and explore the latest advances in vehicle connectivity, visit the FNC-2025 Programme and register now (separate registration for each session).
Bridging the gap between innovation and global standards
While the WTSA Resolution 104 provides the international framework for developing standards on vehicular communication, FNC serves as a venue for dialogue and engagement across the transport and telecom sectors.
To conclude the week of ITS-related sessions, a CITS meeting will follow on 28 March, aimed at furthering collaboration among different standards developing organizations and enhancing the international ITS technical standards database, which is crucial for advancing next-generation mobility.