India Scraps Spectrum Licensing for Autonomous and Safety Tech to Boost Road Safety

The Indian government has eliminated the requirement for separate radio spectrum usage licenses for automotive collision-avoidance and autonomous driving systems operating in the 77–81 GHz radar sensor band and the 5.9 GHz vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication band. Companies can now directly use these frequency bands without needing individual allocations from regulatory authorities. This move aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies in India to address the country’s severe road safety challenges. Data show that India recorded nearly 500,000 road accidents in 2024, resulting in over 177,000 fatalities. As the world’s third-largest automotive market, India faces complex road conditions, diverse road users, and limited enforcement of traffic regulations. The updated spectrum policy aligns India with technical standards in the United States and the European Union, enabling automakers to deploy standardized hardware in India without developing market-specific versions—reducing costs and speeding up technology rollout. International brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, along with domestic manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and Mahindra, will find it easier to integrate ADAS features into their vehicles. Safety technologies previously limited to premium models are expected to become available in more affordable vehicles. Component and chip suppliers—including Bosch, Continental, and Qualcomm—will also benefit from this shift. Radar sensors operating in the 77–81 GHz band support functions such as emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. Meanwhile, 5.9 GHz V2X technology enables communication between vehicles and between vehicles and infrastructure, providing early warnings for risks outside the driver’s line of sight—such as sudden braking around blind curves or approaching ambulances. In 2023, an Indian expert panel noted that most road accidents occur in scenarios where conventional sensors struggle, and recommended that V2X be incorporated into the voluntary Bharat NCAP safety rating system to address this gap. Currently, Bharat NCAP primarily evaluates crash performance and does not mandate specific safety technologies.