AT&T is investing further in its roadmap to support the evolving transportation ecosystem, rolling out 5G “edge zones” to aid in developing use cases.

The carrier has been looking at 5G’s role in connected transportation for years, but with the projected increase of connected cars and their subsequent data consumption, it's looking to invest more heavily in the evolution.

According to AT&T's announcement, the company plans to have 12 total edge zones by the end of the year. Each edge zone combines a 5G standalone (SA) core "with other advanced technologies to bring network services closer to the user.”

“As the transportation ecosystem becomes more connected, many puzzle pieces must fall into place,” AT&T VP Cameron Coursey told SDxCentral. “Pervasive coverage and the ongoing expansion of 5G is important, as having a more robust, faster, higher-bandwidth cellular data system will significantly boost the smart vehicle network’s capabilities. Implementing technologies and solutions that bring the network closer to the user – as we’re doing with our edge zones – is important for performance and the customer experience.”

With transportation becoming more connected and software-defined, AT&T's focus is "expanding beyond in-vehicle connectivity to end-to-end connectivity,” AT&T SVP Mike Troiano stated in the company release.

According to Troiano, the edge buildout looks to offer a customizable service for different network needs.

“For example, a fast response time is more important for a self-driving tractor or driverless crane than it is for a device streaming video in the backseat of a car. In the case of infotainment and over-the-air vehicle software updates, bandwidth is more important," he said.

“And other use cases, like safety features, need to take precedence including enhanced security against cybersecurity threats that could affect its performance. These specialized networks services tap into 5G’s strengths."

Along with 5G, AT&T also anticipates that blockchain will play a major part in the security of transportation as it becomes integrated with IoT devices, according to Coursey.

"Security is always top of mind for vehicles, and especially so for connected smart vehicles," Coursey explained to SDxCentral. "Blockchain technology will safeguard the information exchange through connectivity and minimizing the opportunity for hacking.

AT&T's announcement echoes that of Cisco’s VP of IoT Engineering and Operations Matt Price, who appeared in a recent episode of SDxCentral's 7 Layers podcast to discuss the transforming connectivity demands of future transportations systems, and how 5G and multi-access technologies are playing a pivotal role in its progress.