Visitors to Jacksonville, Florida, will soon be able to ride fully autonomous public transport along the newly revamped waterfront. T-Mobile and Miller Electric Company have teamed up to launch a 5G private network designed to support a fleet of autonomous vehicles as part of the city's Ultimate Urban Circulator program.
Miller Electric, a Jacksonville-based firm, will use T-Mobile’s Advanced Network Solutions to operate the new autonomous shuttle buses. These shuttles will run along a 3-mile route, connecting EverBank Stadium and the new waterfront hub.
“5G connectivity provides the highest bandwidth and lowest latency communication between the AVs and the control center,” said Craig Bowman, Miller Electric's Director of Technology.
“This turnkey solution will enable the vehicles to navigate the streets alongside other vehicle traffic and will ensure the bandwidth we need is available to stream real-time video surveillance and two-way audio and video communications between passengers and employees.”
Advanced 5G technology is important for cities, companies, and organizations looking to implement smart city initiatives, particularly when we are talking about autonomous vehicles. Traditional solutions such as Wi-Fi often lack the range, reliability, and scalability required to effectively operate an autonomous fleet.
T-Mobile's private 5G network will provide secure, reliable communications between the shuttles and the command center. It will transmit real-time telemetry data from on-board sensors and provide live audio and video feeds, allowing staff to interact directly with passengers.
“5G is the key that will unlock the autonomous vehicle future that science fiction has teased us with for years,”
noted Mishka Dehghan, SVP of Strategy, Product, and Solutions Engineering at T-Mobile Business Group.
“Because T-Mobile 5G offers the flexibility to build dynamic solutions like a 5G private network, our customers can actually build the future they envision, not just imagine it. I’m excited to see how this solution will support a thriving urban corridor and give visitors convenient and futuristic transportation options.”
The autonomous shuttles are set to go live by mid-2025, kicking off the first phase of Jacksonville’s Ultimate Urban Circulator. This initial phase will pave the way for expanding the shuttle network to connect with nearby neighborhoods.