The Indian government has de-licenced radio spectrum used for automotive radar and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, paving the way for wider deployment of advanced road-safety technologies and collision-avoidance systems, according to a Department of Telecommunications (DoT) notification reported by The Times of India on June 12, 2026.
Spectrum Bands De-licenced
The DoT has issued two notifications de-licencing the 77-81 GHz band for automotive radar systems and the 5.9 GHz band for V2X communications, the report said. The 77-81 GHz band powers radar sensors used in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, collision warnings and automated parking. These sensors use radio waves to detect the distance, speed and position of nearby objects.
The 5.9 GHz band will support V2X technologies that enable vehicles to exchange real-time information with other vehicles and roadside infrastructure, helping warn drivers about hazards beyond their line of sight – such as sudden braking ahead, blind-curve traffic, foggy conditions or approaching emergency vehicles.
| Band | Frequency Range | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| 77-81 GHz | 77–81 GHz | Automotive radar for ADAS (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, etc.) |
| 5.9 GHz | 5.875–5.925 GHz (as per Supreme Court Committee directive) | Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications (vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure) |
Aligning with Global Standards
The de-licencing aligns India with regulatory frameworks in the United States and the European Union, enabling automakers to deploy globally standardised hardware instead of developing country-specific versions. The Times of India reported that this change is expected to reduce costs and speed up the rollout of safety technologies by manufacturers. For an industry that has struggled with fragmented regulatory environments, the move simplifies supply chains and certification processes for radar and V2X modules.
Road Safety Context
The decision assumes significance as India continues to struggle to reduce road deaths, which was the highest-ever at around 1.8 lakh in 2024, according to government data cited in the report. The Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety had directed the telecom department to de-licence the 5.875–5.925 GHz band, as first reported by The Times of India on April 27. The committee's directive underscores the urgency of deploying life-saving technologies that can mitigate the human and economic toll of road accidents.
Implications for Trade and Automotive Supply Chains
For international trade executives and logistics operators, the spectrum de-licencing has direct downstream effects. Automakers and tier-1 suppliers can now import or locally produce radar sensors and V2X modules that comply with a single global standard, eliminating the need for India-specific variants. This harmonisation is likely to attract foreign investment in local assembly and testing facilities for ADAS components, and reduce import costs for finished safety systems. Freight forwarders handling automotive electronics may see increased volumes of standardised components rather than customised parts.
Customs and regulatory professionals should note that the de-licencing removes a key non-tariff barrier – spectrum licensing – that previously delayed the introduction of advanced safety features in vehicles sold in India. The effective date of the notifications is the date of issuance (June 2026), and enforcement is through spectrum management by the DoT. No additional licensing fees or applications are required for using these bands for the specified automotive applications.
What to Watch
The next key milestone is the adoption of V2X communications by state road infrastructure agencies and the integration of 5.9 GHz band devices into new vehicle models. Automakers are likely to announce rollout timelines for V2X-enabled vehicles in India, and customs authorities may update tariff classifications for radar and V2X equipment to reflect the standardised global parts codes.
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