TRAI Begins Exploring Spectrum Allocation and Pricing Norms for Wireless Communication from Vehicles

Trai Floats Consultation Paper on Spectrum Allocation for Autonomous Cars

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has floated a consultation paper to explore spectrum allocation and pricing norms for wireless communication from vehicles, marking a significant step towards the introduction of autonomous or self-driven cars in India.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has asked Trai to provide suggestions on a regulatory mechanism comprising spectrum assignment, authorization, and pricing for roadside units that will be put in place as part of the proposed intelligent transport system. The consultation paper, which has been placed on Trai's website, invites written comments from stakeholders by May 28, 2026, and counter-comments by June 11, 2026.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has constituted a task force, comprising the DoT, telecom industry body COAI, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), chip company Qualcomm, and technology firm Idemia, to implement Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) in the country. The focus of the task force is on Vehicle to Everything (V2X) communication, which enables vehicles to wirelessly exchange real-time information with their environment.

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The DoT has agreed to provide 30 MHz spectrum (5875-5905 MHz) for the initial deployment of C-V2X (cellular-V2X) technology, while the remaining 20 MHz (5905-5925 MHz) may be reserved for future ITS applications. The rollout of the intelligent transport system is expected to reduce road accidents, improve traffic management, and optimize infrastructure.

Trai's data shows that approximately 92% of road accidents are often attributed to failures in human recognition, such as driver disregard, insufficient surveillance, drivers' distraction, and human decision mistakes. Despite the development of various safety-oriented techniques in vehicles, many people die annually from road traffic accidents.

C-V2X technology has the potential to greatly reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities on the road by allowing vehicles to exchange real-time information, such as location, speed, and status. This technology enables advanced safety applications like collision avoidance, intersection management, and emergency vehicle warning systems.

Comparison of Spectrum Allocation

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