GM to Test Compatibility of Wi-Fi and V2V Systems in 5.9 GHz Band With Cisco Systems

Going by what a General Motors executive told U.S. lawmakers, the company is almost set to start its testing of new technology from Cisco Systems to share spectrum between vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and Wi-Fi systems. Cisco had indicated back in May that they were preparing to test the “listen, detect and avoid” protocol in the particular short range communications (DSRC) 5.9 GHz band. 

The Cisco technology seeks to allow both Wi-Fi devices and V2V safety systems to work in the 5.9 GHz band without causing any sort of interference. The news goes according to GM’s written testimony posted to the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade website on Wednesday that lied ahead of a hearing on V2V technology today. 

Reuters also noted that GM wants to implement the V2V technology in its 2017 Cadillac CTS sedans. The executive director of GM’s Global Connected Customer Experience unit, Harry Lightsey, also confirmed the same saying, “We are very optimistic about a sharing proposal from Cisco that would operate on a ‘listen, detect and vacate’ basis. We have engaged with Cisco and plan to begin testing their technology as soon as possible.”

A team of U.S. lawmakers lately reintroduced the Wi-Fi Innovation Act, which directs the FCC to “move swiftly” in seeking comments and conducting tests to assess the feasibility of opening the 5850-5925 MHz band to unlicensed use. FCC Commissioners Michael O’Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel have come out in support of exploring whether unlicensed services could operate in the U-NII-4 band without causing harmful interference to DSRC.