Experts in the field of 5G and mobility converged in Modena, Italy, on 14 February to celebrate the culmination of the 5GMETA project and delve into the transformative potential of 5G technology. Against the backdrop of escalating environmental concerns and the imperative for sustainable mobility solutions, this gathering was a significant opportunity to explore how cutting-edge technologies can pave the way towards a greener Europe.

More than 100 attendees took part in 5GMETA’s final public event hosted by ICOORUNIMORE in a hybrid format in Modena to explain and demonstrate the results achieved after an intense 42 months. The occasion allowed attendees to deep dive into understanding how 5G technologies and applications are influencing and boosting CCAM and the mobility sector. The event offered insights into innovation trends in mobility powered by 5G, a look into the functionalities of the 5GMETA Platform, and thought-provoking discussions on the future of 5G in CCAM. Live demonstrations and startup showcases offered attendees a firsthand experience of the transformative potential of 5G technology, while a panel of experts delved into the nuances of car-captured data and its implications for sustainable mobility.

ERTICO’s Senior Project Manager Dr Tamara Djukic moderated an interesting panel focusing on the challenges, applications and required policies for car-captured data for sustainable mobility. The discussion, which involved actors from different sectors and environments, grouped different perspectives with the goal of understanding how to integrate different data into the 5GMETA Platform. The event ended with a live demonstration of the functioning of the 5GMETA Platform through a session that was streamed live from one of the cars provided to the consortium for testing.

5GMETA at the forefront of 5G development

5GMETA Project Officer, Dr Jorge Pereira of DG CONNECT, pointed out that projects such 5GMETA play a pivotal role in realising the European Commission’s ambition to blanket the entire Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) with 5G connectivity by 2030. Dr Pereira emphasised the need for broadening participation, stressing that the integration of new stakeholders is paramount to achieving ubiquitous gigabit connectivity. Central to this endeavour is the harnessing of data – from its collection and curation to monetisation – to empower advanced smart mobility services, thereby steering Europe towards a sustainable future.

Vicomtech’s Dr Oihana Otaegui, Project Coordinator, highlighted how CCAM can contribute to the European Commission’s goals in the realm of 5G. Dr Otaegui advocated for solid collaboration across domains to foster innovation and address the intricate requirements of Europe’s transport ecosystem. A robust data framework emerges as a cornerstone for success, underpinning the seamless integration of CCAM technologies into the fabric of European mobility.

Finally, Dr Gorka Vélez, Technical Project Coordinator and Senior Researcher at Vicomtech, presented and described the 5GMETA Platform’s main features – such as accessibility and transparency – and underscored its pivotal role in enabling development of 5G technologies through car-captured data analysis and utilisation.

With sustainability at its core, the 5GMETA project will conclude the work that consortium partners brought on for three and a half year at the end of February, in which innovation and collaboration, propelling Europe towards a greener and more connected future, were pivotal.