Fog ahead? Accident zone? Time to brake?
As smart cars load up on communication alerts to make driving a breeze, the government is at work too, plotting a framework for the spectrum that will form the digital backbone of connected vehicles.
The Centre has asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to frame a regulatory structure for assigning and pricing spectrum for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology, two officials aware of the matter said. The move marks a critical transition for India, shifting focus toward the invisible infrastructure required to support connected cars on a national scale.
This puts spectrum at the centre of the rollout, even as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) works on a broader commercial framework.
The department of telecommunications (DoT) in December reserved 50MHz spectrum in the 5,875–5,925 megahertz (MHz) band for V2X and intelligent transport systems (ITS). Of this, 30MHz (5,875–5,905MHz) will be used for initial deployment, with the remainder earmarked for future ITS applications.
DoT has approached Trai for its recommendations as MoRTH does not deal with the subject of spectrum.
How the system will work
Vehicle connectivity is built around two components: on-board units (OBUs) installed in vehicles and roadside units (RSUs) deployed along infrastructure such as traffic signals. OBUs allow vehicles to communicate with each other and nearby systems, while RSUs relay information from the road, enabling real-time alerts on hazards, traffic conditions and movement beyond a driver’s line of sight.
“The government is currently considering having a regulatory mechanism including spectrum assignment and authorization for RSUs. Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has been consulted on the same. For in-vehicle devices, the plan is to permit licence-exempt use,” one of the officials cited above said, adding that globally there is no individual licensing for such in-vehicle devices.
If licence-exempt use for OBUs is permitted, carmakers would be able to install these devices without requiring a licence, while RSUs would operate under assigned spectrum to ensure reliable and interference-free communication.
The proposal is that RSUs will be authorized by state governments or agencies designated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), with spectrum acquired by these entities on an administrative (non-auction) basis, given the safety-critical nature of the system, the second official said.
Both officials requested anonymity. Queries sent to Trai, DoT, and MoRTH remained unanswered till press time.
Industry readiness
“India is already scaling connected vehicles and Adas (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) penetration, and V2X is the logical next layer. Delayed regulation could lead to technology lock-in or fragmentation, especially if OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) adopt proprietary or global standards without localization,” said Hemal Thakkar, director at Crisil Intelligence.
According to Thakkar, in the initial phase, V2X will be driven by public investment because the primary benefits—road safety, congestion reduction and efficiency—are public goods. “That said, it would be a mistake to view it as non-commercial. Over time, V2X will unlock a service layer—ranging from predictive alerts and traffic intelligence to insurance and fleet optimization,” he said, adding that Indian automakers are directionally ready.
A commercial rollout is gaining urgency as India continues to report high road accident numbers.
According to data shared by MoRTH in the parliament in December last year, the country recorded 487,705 road accidents and 177,177 fatalities due to road accidents in 2024. In February 2020, India joined over 80 countries in signing the Stockholm declaration, pledging to reduce road deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.
“The spectrum is already reserved. It is for MoRTH and DoT to just allow the commercial use so that users can experience the feature in their vehicles. Simultaneously, the authorities can work on roadside infrastructure spectrum and regulation framework,” a consultant who works with automakers said.
For example, Mahindra in its brochure for the XEV 9e and the BE 6e variants talked about having a V2X feature. However, it said the use of the same is subject to regulatory approval in the country.
In September 2024, the road transport and highways ministry set up a taskforce for the development and implementation of intelligent transport systems in the country, with a focus on vehicle-to-vehicle communications.
The taskforce included members from the Automotive Research Association of India (Arai), Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Cellular Operators Association of India (Coai), the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), the department of telecommunications, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), among others.
Last year, in its recommendations, the task force recommended no individual licences for in-vehicle devices to enable easier installation across vehicle categories and support wider adoption.
“The state government or any authority authorized in this behalf by the State Government or National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) or any other road owning agencies will be better suited to handle oversight and authorization for RSU installation to ensure that RSUs are correctly located, functional, and meet all necessary safety and operational standards,” the task force had said.
An industry executive said the task force has also submitted a final report to MoRTH in January, recommending pilot projects and interoperability of vehicle connectivity technology across states, given that roadside infrastructure is a state subject.
The technology is already being deployed or tested in several countries. China has rolled it out on highways and city roads, while European countries are testing it across highways and urban streets. In the US, pilot programmes are underway, and Japan and South Korea are equipping new vehicles and roads with the system.