Türkiye has launched a technology move towards the goal of full independence in smart transportation networks. ULAK Haberleşme, acting under the leadership of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, has commissioned its domestically developed 5G base stations and broadband communication systems on highways. The 40-kilometre route between the Hasdal Junction and Istanbul Airport has been transformed into a smart highway within the scope of this project. The newly established infrastructure enables vehicles to communicate instantaneously with the road and with each other. This technological infrastructure constitutes the most fundamental building block of the autonomous driving and smart city vision.
C-V2X and DSRC Technology in Smart Transportation
Future transportation systems require vehicles to establish seamless communication not only with the driver but also with their surroundings. To meet this need, ULAK engineers developed intelligent units based on Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology operating over cellular networks and Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC). The teams produced these communication units to comply with international ETSI standards and 3GPP Rel-15 specifications.
C-V2X technology allows vehicles to communicate directly with traffic lights (V2I), other vehicles (V2V), and pedestrians (V2P) using 4G/5G cellular networks. DSRC, on the other hand, provides low-latency data transmission over very short distances. The company installed Roadside Units (RSUs) at 19 different points along the designated 40-kilometre pilot route in Istanbul. Thus, the entire highway gained seamless 5G data infrastructure.
Technical Anatomy of RSU and OBU Units
The hardware infrastructure enabling the system's flawless operation consists of On-Board Units (OBUs) installed in vehicles and Roadside Units (RSUs) positioned along the roadside. RSUs act as a bridge between vehicles in traffic and the base stations.
Are On-Board Unit (OBU) devices standard equipment in today's vehicles? Although next-generation smart mobility devices like Togg are constantly connected to the internet, C-V2X-enabled OBUs are specialised hardware designed to communicate directly with the autonomous driving and smart highway ecosystem. Currently, these units are primarily retrofitted into test fleets, public vehicles, or logistics trucks. However, as the era of Level 4 autonomous driving approaches, these communication modules will begin to become standard factory-installed equipment in all modern vehicles.
Both units draw their power from the high-capacity Quectel AG550Q C-V2X module. Equipped with a 1.4 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor and an Embedded Linux operating system, these devices process field data within milliseconds. Additionally, the integrated Hardware Security Module ensures that this massive data exchange is protected with high reliability against cyber-attacks.
AI-Powered Real-Time Risk Detection
Seconds matter significantly for human life when incidents occur on highways. The system's central software platform instantly analyses all risks on the road. Vehicles in the area and roadside units continuously exchange data. As a result, the system detects accidents, stopped vehicles, hidden ice, or objects on the road within milliseconds. Furthermore, it sends digital warnings to drivers in advance during emergencies such as lane closures.
Data Security and Inter-Institutional Synergy
Dependency on foreign sources in smart transportation systems carries the risk of the country's entire traffic and location data being transferred abroad. The national 5G infrastructure developed by ULAK Haberleşme keeps this massive data flow entirely within the country's borders. Therefore, the project directly safeguards Türkiye's cyber and digital sovereignty.
Moreover, this visionary project reflects the product of an extensive institutional collaboration. The Transport and Communication Research Centre (UDHAM), the General Directorate of Highways (KGM), and TÜRKSAT are working together with ULAK on this project. The company acts as the hardware and technology provider for this major public consortium.
Preparation for the Autonomous Driving Ecosystem
This 5G-enabled smart highway project, successfully implemented in Istanbul, serves as a massive laboratory for future transportation models. The number of connected and smart devices (such as Togg) on Türkiye's roads is increasing daily. Such domestic communication infrastructures are preparing the necessary foundation for the widespread adoption of Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous driving technologies in our country. In the coming years, the expansion of this system across Türkiye will drastically reduce traffic accidents and maximise logistics efficiency.
