ETSI TS 103 836-3 V2.1.1 (2025-08)

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS);
Vehicular Communications;
GeoNetworking;
Part 3: Network Architecture;
Release 2
2 ETSI TS 103 836-3 V2.1.1 (2025-08)

Reference
RTS/ITS-0081
Keywords
autonomic networking, ITS, network, safety
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3 ETSI TS 103 836-3 V2.1.1 (2025-08)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 4
Foreword . 4
Modal verbs terminology . 4
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 References . 6
2.1 Normative references . 6
2.2 Informative references . 7
3 Definition of terms, symbols and abbreviations . 7
3.1 Terms . 7
3.2 Symbols . 8
3.3 Abbreviations . 8
4 Network architecture for ITS stations . 8
5 Deployment scenarios of the generic network architecture. 10
6 Components of the network architecture . 11
6.1 General . 11
6.2 Sub-components of vehicle ITS stations and roadside ITS stations . 12
7 ITS station protocol architecture . 13
7.1 Protocol stack overview . 13
7.2 Protocols of the ITS networking & transport layer . 14
7.3 Assembly of networking and transport protocols in the ITS station protocol stack . 15
7.3.1 Overview . 15
7.3.2 GeoNetworking protocol stack . 15
7.3.3 IPv6 stack . 15
7.3.4 Combination of the GeoNetworking protocol and IPv6 . 16
7.3.5 Protocol stacks for other network protocols . 16
8 Interfaces and service access points . 16
9 Framework for networking and transport protocols . 17
9.0 General . 17
9.1 GeoNetworking functional requirements . 17
9.1.1 Ad hoc networking. 17
9.1.2 Addressing . 18
9.1.3 Resource management and decentralized data congestion control . 18
9.1.4 Integration of GeoNetworking and IPv6 . 18
9.1.5 Backward compatibility to IPv4 . 18
9.1.6 Usage of multiple ITS access technologies . 18
9.1.7 Security and privacy protection . 18
9.2 Other protocol stacks . 19
History . 20

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4 ETSI TS 103 836-3 V2.1.1 (2025-08)
Intellectual Property Rights
Essential patents
IPRs essential or potentially essential to normative deliverables may have been declared to ETSI. The declarations
pertaining to these essential IPRs, if any, are publicly available for ETSI members and non-members, and can be
found in ETSI SR 000 314: "Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); Essential, or potentially Essential, IPRs notified to
ETSI in respect of ETSI standards", which is available from the ETSI Secretariat. Latest updates are available on the
ETSI IPR online database.
Pursuant to the ETSI Directives including the ETSI IPR Policy, no investigation regarding the essentiality of IPRs,
including IPR searches, has been carried out by ETSI. No guarantee can be given as to the existence of other IPRs not
referenced in ETSI SR 000 314 (or the updates on the ETSI Web server) which are, or may be, or may become,
essential to the present document.
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Foreword
This Technical Specification (TS) has been produced by ETSI Technical Committee Intelligent Transport Systems
(ITS).
The present document is part 3 of a multi-part deliverable. Full details of the entire series can be found in part 1 [i.5].
Modal verbs terminology
In the present document "shall", "shall not", "should", "should not", "may", "need not", "will", "will not", "can" and
"cannot" are to be interpreted as described in clause 3.2 of the ETSI Drafting Rules (Verbal forms for the expression of
provisions).
"must" and "must not" are NOT allowed in ETSI deliverables except when used in direct citation.
Introduction
The present document specifies the network architecture for communication-based Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
using different ITS access technologies, such as ITS-G5. The network architecture provides - in combination with the
description of scenarios - a basis for the technical specification of the networking and transport protocols, in particular
for GeoNetworking and its related protocols.
The present document first introduces a generic, high-level system view of the network architecture and defines four
basic deployment scenarios. Based on the system view, it identifies and describes the main network components and
specifies network reference points among them. Central component of the architecture is the ITS station. For this
component, an overview of its protocol architecture is given and different options of using the GeoNetworking protocol
in combination with transport protocols and protocols of the IP suite are described. Finally, the present document
defines frameworks for different aspects of networking and data transport, such as ad hoc communication, addressing,
resource management and data congestion control, integration with protocols of the IP suite and others.
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The network architecture is based on the ITS architecture and represents the networking viewpoint of the overall
architecture.
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1 Scope
The present document specifies a network architecture of communications in Cooperative Intelligent Transportation
Systems (C-ITS). The network architecture is focused on, but not limited to, vehicular communication. The architecture
enables a wide range of ITS applications for road safety, traffic efficiency as well as for infotainment and business.
The present document defines the framework for network and data transport protocols that provide data exchange
among ITS stations. A particular aspect is the GeoNetworking protocol that provides ad hoc and multi-hop
communication over short-range wireless technologies utilizing geographical positions.
2 References
2.1 Normative references
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
Referenced documents which are not found to be publicly available in the expected location might be found in the
ETSI docbox.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication, ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
The following referenced documents are necessary for the application of the present document.
[1] Void.
[2] ETSI TS 103 836-2: "Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS); Vehicular Communications;
GeoNetworking; Part 2: Scenarios; Release 2".
[3] ETSI TS 103 836-4-1: "Intelligent Transport System (ITS); Vehicular communications;
GeoNetworking; Part 4: Geographical addressing and forwarding for point-to-point and point-to-
multipoint communications; Sub-part 1: Media-Independent Functionality; Release 2".
[4] ETSI TS 103 836-5-1: "Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS); Vehicular Communications;
GeoNetworking; Part 5: Transport Protocols; Sub-part 1: Basic Transport Protocol; Release 2".
[5] ETSI TS 103 836-6-1: "Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS); Vehicular Communications;
GeoNetworking; Part 6: Internet Integration; Sub-part 1: Transmission of IPv6 Packets over
GeoNetworking Protocols; Release 2".
[6] Void.
[7] IETF RFC 791: "Internet Protocol".
[8] IETF RFC 2460: "Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification".
[9] IETF RFC 3775: "Mobility Support in IPv6".
[10] IETF RFC 768: "User Datagram Protocol".
[11] IETF RFC 793: "Transmission Control Protocol".
[12] IETF RFC 3963: "Network Mobility (NEMO) Basic Support Protocol".
[13] IETF RFC 5213: "Proxy Mobile IPv6".
[14] IETF RFC 5648: "Multiple Care-of Addresses Registration".
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2.2 Informative references
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication, ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
The following referenced documents may be useful in implementing an ETSI deliverable or add to the reader's
understanding, but are not required for conformance to the present document.
[i.1] ISO/IEC 7498-1: "Information technology - Open Systems Interconnection - Basic Reference
Model: The Basic Model".
[i.2] IETF RFC 3753: "Mobility Related Terminology".
[i.3] IETF RFC 4213: "Basic Transition Mechanisms for IPv6 Hosts and Routers".
[i.4] IETF RFC 2185: "Routing Aspects of IPv6 Transition".
[i.5] ETSI TS 103 836-1: "Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS); Vehicular Communications;
GeoNetworking; Part 1: Requirements; Release 2".
3 Definition of terms, symbols and abbreviations
3.1 Terms
For the purposes of the present document, the terms given in ISO/IEC 7498-1 [i.1] and the following apply:
access network gateway: router at the edge of a network that connects an ITS station-internal network to the ITS
access network, the public access network, and the private access network
access router: IPv6 router that acts as point of attachment and provides access to other networks, such as to the ITS
access network
NOTE: The definition is taken from IETF RFC 3753 [i.2] and adapted to the ITS network architecture.
ad hoc network: wireless networks based on self-organization without the need for a coordinating infrastructure
ad hoc router: router that is associated with the ITS ad hoc network and executes an ad hoc networking protocol
Application Unit (AU): physical unit in an ITS station that executes applications and uses the communication services
of a Communication & Control Unit (CCU)
Communication and Control Unit (CCU): physical communication unit located in an ITS station that implements
communication protocols and provides communication services
GeoNetworking: network service that utilizes geographical positions and provides ad hoc communication without the
need for a coordinating communication infrastructure
GeoNetworking protocol: network protocol that provides the GeoNetworking service
ITS access network: communication network that interconnects roadside ITS stations among each other in an ITS
specific way and optionally interconnects them to the core network (e.g. the Internet)
ITS ad hoc network: special type of mobile ad hoc network in the ITS architecture that enables self-organized
communication among ITS stations without the need for a coordinating communication infrastructure
ITS operational support service: service for operation of the ITS, such as the provision of security credentials to users
and vehicle drivers
ITS station internal network: network that interconnects the different components of an ITS station
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legacy roadside infrastructure: road infrastructure, e.g. road sensors, loops, networks, switches, router, processing
entities, etc.
legacy services: legacy Internet services, such as web access, email, Internet access, file transfer, etc.
mobile network: entire network, moving as a unit, which dynamically changes its point of attachment to the Internet
and thus its reachability in the topology
mobile router: IPv6 router that acts as gateway between a IPv6 mobile network and another IP-based network, and
capable of changing its point of attachment to the network, moving from one link to another link
private access network: network that provides data services to a closed user group for a secured access to another
system
proprietary local network: communication network attached to an ITS station, for example a Controller Area
Network (CAN) in a vehicle or a network of roadside legacy infrastructure
public access network: network that provides access to general purpose networks that are publicly accessible
3.2 Symbols
Void.
3.3 Abbreviations
AU Application Unit
AU Application Unit
CAN Controller Area Network
CCU Communication and Control Unit
DCC Decentralized Congestion Control
IP Internet Protocol
ITS-S ITS-Station
NEMO Network Mobility
PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol
SAP Service access points
SCTP Stream Control Transfer Protocol
TCP Transmission Control Protocol
UDP User Datagram Protocol
UE User Equipment
4 Network architecture for ITS stations
The network architecture comprises external and internal networks. External networks interconnect ITS stations among
each other or connect ITS stations to other network entities. The following external networks are identified:
• ITS ad hoc network.
• Access network (ITS access network, public access network, private access network).
• Core network (e.g. the Internet).
Additionally, an ITS station can have an internal network that interconnects the components of the ITS station.
The different networks shall provide support for at least one of the use cases of road safety, traffic efficiency,
infotainment and business applications. However, it is presumed that the communication within a single network does
not meet all the requirements of all applications and use cases. Instead, combinations of networks are envisioned, in
which multiple ITS access and networking technologies are applied.
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Figure 1: External networks involved in the ITS architecture and their interconnections
Figure 1 represents the highest level of abstraction of the ITS network architecture, where the external networks,
represented by clouds are connected. The networks can be categorized into an ITS domain and a generic domain. The
external networks can be described as follows:
The ITS ad hoc network enables ad hoc communication among vehicle, roadside and personal ITS stations. The
communication is based on wireless technologies that provide a short communication range (referred to as "short-range
wireless technology") and allow for mobility of the ITS stations forming arbitrary network topologies without the need
for a coordinating communication infrastructure. An example of an ITS ad hoc network is a network of vehicle,
roadside and personal ITS stations interconnected by short range wireless technology.
An ITS access network is a dedicated network that provides access to specific ITS services and applications and can be
operated by a road operator or other operators. The ITS access network also interconnects roadside ITS stations and
provides
...