(Yicai Global) Sept. 8 -- The Chinese capital has launched the world's first smart networked road, which provides notifications and real-time information to drivers traveling along it.

Cars equipped with a vehicle networking system can receive blind zone reminders, notifications of oncoming vehicles, pedestrian intrusions and be informed of rights of way, state-owned news agency Xinhua reported on Sept. 9.

The 12-kilometer experimental stretch of road, located in Beijing's Economic and Technological Development Zone, features a bus lane, reversible lane, main road and auxiliary road.

ZTE Corp. [SHE:000063;HKG:0763] provided LTE networks, a high-speed wireless communication technology, for the road.

Authorities have deployed more than 20 equipment sets at seven intersections on the road, interconnected with traffic lights, road markings, signs, variable information boards, and road construction warning signs.

Another key part of the project's first phase remains under construction. It will later feature an expressway and highway test area, urban road test area with complex roundabout and overpasses and a rural test area. These are set to begin operatoin by the end of this year.

The project's second phase will continue to expand the pilot while the third phase will see the construction of a 25-square-kilometer open test area built between 2018 and 2019.

Networked vehicle equipment will also be deployed on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou highway, Beijing's new airport expressway, as well as the Beijing and Hebei high-speed expressway, with services to launch ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

The project was jointly promoted by the Ministry of industry and Information Technology and relevant government departments of Beijing and Hebei province. The innovation center for Intelligent and Connect Vehicles in Beijing will be responsible for its construction.