Network evolution and technological advancements pave the way for new levels of connectivity in the digital industry. To ensure digital evolution, it is crucial to develop the 5G core network and architecture with regards to the requirements of industries where there is a sufficient spectrum of resources. Planning and deploying 5G networks in various scenarios is more significant to implement overlay than the existing networks.

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) depend on their communications systems, defined as Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), continuing to advance and promote safety, efficiency, capacity, and reliability. While V2X communication is the main contributor to vehicle automation, it also comes with challenges; the critical information infrastructure can lead to security and privacy issues. Other challenges are technological, environmental, and organizational. For instance, improving autonomous driving will be better experienced with appropriate connectivity among traffic infrastructure and vehicles. The dynamic progression of Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) which is consistent with 5G technology permits a precise and systematic path planning technique for autonomous vehicles. C-V2X aids PC5 and Uu interfaces and the integration of these two modes of C-V2X develop new products with upgraded performance, functionality, and low-cost benefits. The potential of 5G networks can connect a huge number of devices to attain more data which in turn reinforces C-V2X technologies to attain efficient autonomous vehicles.

This Special Issue outlines that, despite the advances in technology, autonomous vehicles are still up against many challenges. Communication networks play a vital role in solving evolving challenges. Deploying 5G is imperative for the current development and control of autonomous vehicles. Advances in 5G-based C-V2X applications are to be developed to mitigate the ongoing risks. We welcome both original research and review articles.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Machine Learning in managing network complexity in 5G for autonomous vehicles
• 5G enabled Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) services and real-time applications
• 5G network analysis for sustainable vehicular services
• 5G-based mission-critical V2X communications for autonomous vehicles (AVs)
• Advances in software-defined vehicular network (SDVN) architectures for autonomous vehicles (AVs)
• Management frameworks for 5G networks to mitigate privacy destructions in autonomous vehicles (AVs)
• Integration of sub-6 GHz and mmWave communication for high network throughput and its applications for AVs
• 5G-V2X based security solutions and mobility management of AVs
• Advances in data-driven network modeling and simulations for AVs
• Testbeds for 5G based control design techniques of AVs
• Impact and performance analysis of routing protocols, traffic density, etc., in autonomous vehicles
• Recent advances and strategic planning for robust coverage of connected Autonomous vehicles