Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission
Connected cars may appear on European roads by 2015 now that a basic set of standards the European Commission had requested have been completed.
Two European standards organisations, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and the European Committee for Standardisation, confirmed yesterday the basic set of standards are ready.
These standards adopt a set of norms, such as ensuring vehicles made by different manufacturers can communicate with each other.
The EU has invested more than €180m in some 40 research projects on co-operative transport systems, whose results helped develop the standards.
These standards will place the European car industry, which provides 13m jobs, out in front when it comes to the development of the next generation of cars, according to the European Commission.
Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission, said direct communication between vehicles and infrastructures will ensure safer and more efficient traffic flows, with great benefits for drivers, pedestrians, the environment and European economy.
“This shows Europe’s unique digital advantage, but for connected cars to really work, we also need more consistency in rules that underpin fast broadband networks,” said Kroes.
“Our fragmented spectrum policy puts the brakes on our economy – now it’s time to get our connected continent up to cruising speed.”
