Cellular networks have gained a lot of popularity in the context of vehicular communication
within the last few years. Existing reference architectures such as CALM
already consider them to provide enhanced connectivity to vehicles for data communication.
Their capabilities, especially 3G and next-generation, translate into
great potential in the vehicular environment, far beyond the provision of data connectivity.
In this context we present a solution that uses 3G cellular networks not
only as a backup for data communication among vehicles, but also and especially
as an efficient mechanism for the dissemination of relevant control information for
multiple applications, services, and protocols. Our simulation results demonstrate
that by using our 3G-based solution to disseminate connectivity information, vehicular
ad hoc routing protocols improve their route selections, which results in a higher
packet delivery ratio in urban scenarios.