Sacyr Maintenance continues to conduct tests with Vodafone's 5G technology to allow real-time online connectivity between drivers and various road control and maintenance operations.
5G networks allow for nearly real-time information transmission due to its low latency (the time it takes for data to be transmitted over the network), through a mobility data platform called STEP.
"Sacyr is an infrastructure partner to conduct pilots with Vodafone's technology. We are conducting tests in real environments, validating accident and incident response situations as well as lane closing operations under the protocols of the Spanish Traffic Authority and the infrastructure owner," explains Jorge Zarzuelo, responsible for project control at Sacyr Maintenance.
Usage is quite straightforward; users receive communication from road maintenance workers' sensors in their vehicles through the STEP platform. An alert informs them that there is a worker on the road, prompting them to proceed with caution. This substantially improves safety conditions.
Some tests have been conducted in Andalusia, where Vodafone has invested in 5G connectivity thanks to a pilot with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This provides access to services and applications requiring ultra-low latency through Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), powered by AWS Wavelength.
"At present, the 5G network has some limitations, but coverage maps are advancing rapidly thanks to the continuous deployment of access networks, which will eventually allow for commonplace use," Zarzuelo asserts.
"We are taking the first steps towards future mobility. A safer mobility where users are automatically notified about roadworks" he explains.
Low-latency communication via AWS Wavelength allows the STEP platform to connect drivers with traffic managers with very short response times (ms). Additionally, traffic management becomes more efficient, promoting digitization on the roads.
Vodafone presented this case study at the TM Forum Awards, a telecommunications industry association, where we became finalists.
