The role of telecommunications in development of new-generation Intelligent Transport Systems

Transport is one of the pillars of modern society, and as such, exposed to growing demands for efficiency, security, reliability, cost-effectiveness and care for environment. Solution for satisfaction of all above-mentioned demands is generally seen in multi-layered infrastructure usually referred to as the intelligent transportation system (ITS). ITS is a result of synergy between several existing technological components, integrated through carefully suited process in order to reach solution for general transport control and transport information services provision. Recent developments show the re-thinking of the ITS concept is under way, that foresees the high-level system that enables interactions between vehicles, road infrastructure, drivers and traffic controllers in a way that raising demands for new transport can be fulfilled. In such new-generation ITS, telecommunications have been merely considered a reliable bearer of information. Here we argue that telecommunications are capable and will take more pro-active approach in definition and deployment of the new-generation ITS. The fundamental strength of telecommunications for ITS lays in the mobile awareness embedded in telecommunication networks by their nature. Recent advancements in provision of means and systems for exploitation of mobile awareness embedded in telecommunication networks offer prospects for adding new value in efficiency, security, reliability and cost-effectiveness of the ITS. This paper presents several means for provision of traffic-related data for development of seamless and reliable traffic information system (TUS), based entirely on the already deployed telecommunication network infrastructure. Establishment of the traffic information system will provide a backbone for further developments aimed to obtain national- and regional-level efficient, safe, climate-friendly and clean intelligent transport systems.