Cisco’s proposed protocol for 5.9 GHz-sharing by DSRC and Wi-Fi is undergoing field tests

Field tests of a program that allows Wi-Fi and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications to share a sector of the radio frequency spectrum are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.  The testing of the 5.9 Gigahertz (GHz) band follows the May 13 announcement by Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx that the DOT would expedite research into sharing the band with unlicensed users, such as consumers and businesses.  Cisco has allied with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Global Automakers, two trade groups representing auto OEMs, in its development and promotion of Listen, Detect, and Avoid. A second DSRC-sharing proposal from Cisco competitor Qualcomm was turned down by the FCC.