India has taken a significant step toward improving road safety and accelerating the adoption of connected vehicle technologies by delicensing 30 MHz of spectrum in the globally harmonized 5.9 GHz band for Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communications.
The decision, welcomed by Broadband India Forum (BIF), is expected to support the deployment of intelligent transportation systems, advanced driver assistance technologies, and next-generation connected mobility solutions across the country.
BIF praised the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) for aligning India’s spectrum policy with internationally harmonized standards and global best practices for vehicular communications.
The move comes at a critical time as India continues to face one of the world’s largest road safety challenges. Official estimates indicate that the country records more than 460,000 road accidents and nearly 170,000 fatalities every year. Road accidents also impose a significant economic burden, estimated at 3.14 percent of India’s GDP, through medical expenses, property damage, rehabilitation costs, lost productivity, and income losses for affected families.
The newly delicensed 5.9 GHz spectrum band will enable V2V communications based on globally standardized 3GPP technologies. These systems allow vehicles to exchange real-time safety information such as speed, location, direction, braking status, collision risks, and hazardous road conditions.
By facilitating direct communication between vehicles, V2V technology can help drivers and automated safety systems identify dangers beyond their line of sight, providing additional reaction time to avoid accidents and potentially save lives.
Industry experts believe the spectrum decision will accelerate the rollout of critical safety applications, including collision avoidance systems, emergency braking alerts, blind-spot detection, intersection safety warnings, vulnerable road-user protection, and other advanced driver assistance features.
The policy move is also expected to strengthen India’s connected mobility ecosystem, as several domestic automobile manufacturers have already begun integrating On-Board Units (OBUs) capable of operating in the 5.9 GHz band. The availability of delicensed spectrum removes a major barrier to large-scale deployment of V2V technology and supports the development of smarter and safer transportation infrastructure.
T.V. Ramachandran, President of Broadband India Forum, said the decision extends beyond spectrum management and directly addresses public safety concerns. He noted that accelerating the adoption of advanced safety technologies can help reduce road accidents, lower the socio-economic costs associated with traffic fatalities, and support the growth of intelligent transportation systems essential for the future of mobility.
The delicensing of the 5.9 GHz band is expected to create new opportunities for telecom operators, automobile manufacturers, technology providers, and smart mobility solution developers, while contributing to safer roads, improved economic productivity, and enhanced public welfare across India.
