Evaluation of Alternative Direct V2X Communication Mediums Beyond the 5.9 GHz Spectrum
- Jun 26, 2026
- Focus Area
- ITS Technologies
- Submitting On Behalf Of
- Other: Jim Misner, Jim Katsafanas, Marisa Migliore, Ken Yang
- Urgency
- Critical - High Priority
- Cost
- $500,000 - 749,000
- Timeframe
- 1 - 2 years
- Type of Research
- Full Research Project
- Date Posted
- Jun 26, 2026
- Status
- Not Funded
Research Description
This research will evaluate the technical viability and performance characteristics of direct vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication mediums that operate outside of the 5.9 GHz ITS band. The focus will be on alternative direct, low-latency communication approaches that may support safety-critical and time-sensitive applications.
The research will assess non-traditional direct communication interfaces, such as alternative spectrum bands, optical/line-of-sight communications, and other peer-to-peer wireless technologies against key performance requirements such as latency, reliability, range, scalability, and interoperability with existing direct V2X technology (C-V2X PC5).
What we hope to learn: • The ability of non-5.9 GHz communication mediums to meet the performance requirements of safety-critical direct V2X applications (e.g., latency, packet delivery reliability, and broadcast behavior). • The comparative strengths and limitations of alternative direct communication mediums across different operational environments such as urban, rural, corridor, and edge scenarios. • Viability of these alternative technologies in V2X use cases • Spectrum-related considerations, including availability, interference, coexistence, and regulatory constraints • Implications for device design, roadside infrastructure, and deployment models when leveraging alternative direct communication pathways • Cybersecurity, resilience, and fail-safe performance characteristics of alternative direct V2X approaches
Additional Supporting Information
Benefits: • Provides insight into viable pathways for direct V2X communications that are not solely reliant on the constrained 5.9 GHz band • Identifies opportunities for redundant or complementary direct communication channels to enhance reliability in safety-critical scenarios
- Submitted By
- Jim Katsafanas
- Michael Baker International
- 412-269-4635
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