India’s Ministry of Communications (Department of Telecommunications) has published G.S.R. 466(E), dated 10 June 2026, in the Gazette of India, introducing the Use of On Board Unit for Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything Communication in the 5.9 GHz Band (Exemption from Licensing Requirements) Rules, 2026. Issued under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, the notification exempts On Board Units (OBUs) operating in the 5875–5905 MHz frequency band from spectrum licensing requirements, with immediate effect upon publication.
Published alongside the concurrent de-licensing of the 77–81 GHz band for short-range automotive radar (G.S.R. 468(E)), this notification represents the second pillar of India’s regulatory enablement of intelligent transportation systems — covering not just radar-based sensing, but the wireless communication infrastructure that allows vehicles to interact with each other and with road infrastructure in real time.
What Has Changed
Prior to this notification, On Board Units operating in the 5.9 GHz band for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication required a licence under the Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Possession) Rules, 1965. This placed India out of step with major automotive markets — including the United States and European Union — where this band has long been allocated for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), creating barriers for manufacturers deploying globally developed C-V2X hardware in India.
G.S.R. 466(E) removes this requirement. Under the new rules:
- No radio frequency assignment is required for the establishment, maintenance, or working of an OBU operating in the 5875–5905 MHz band as part of an Intelligent Transport System for road transport
- No licence is required for any person to possess an OBU, or for any dealer to sell or hire one
- The exemption operates on a non-interference, non-protection, and non-exclusive basis — users of exempt OBUs must not cause harmful interference to licensed systems and cannot claim protection from such interference
- Where the DoT receives a complaint that an exempt OBU is causing harmful interference to a licensed service, it may direct the user to take remediation measures, including relocating equipment, reducing power, or changing antenna type
What Is an On Board Unit?
The rules define an On Board Unit as a radio equipment (including its antenna) operated as part of an Intelligent Transport System established for road transport purposes, which is either installed on a vehicle, forms part of a vehicle regardless of whether it was part of the vehicle when manufactured, or is held or carried by an individual in relation to a vehicle. This definition is deliberately broad, covering factory-fitted systems, aftermarket installations, and personal devices used in relation to a vehicle.
Technical Requirements
The exemption is conditional on strict compliance with the following RF parameters:
| Parameter | Limit |
|---|---|
| Maximum power spectral density EIRP (in-band) | 23 dBm/MHz |
| Maximum EIRP (in-band) | 33 dBm |
| Out-of-band emissions (maximum PSD) | −30 dBm/MHz |
All in-band measurements are made over a 1 MHz bandwidth within the 5875–5905 MHz operating band. Power spectral density is calculated as the total energy output per unit bandwidth from a pulse or sequence of pulses at maximum transmit power, divided by the total pulse duration plus any off-time between pulses.
Beyond these RF parameters, all OBUs must conform to standards notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or the Central Government. Where no such Indian standards have been published, the relevant international standards — from bodies including the ITU, ETSI, ANSI, and ICNIRP — apply.
Equipment Type Approval
As with the 77–81 GHz radar notification, the exemption from licensing does not remove the requirement for equipment type approval. Each type of OBU must be registered via the DoT portal using the application form set out in the Schedule to the rules, covering detailed transmitter and receiver specifications including frequency range, power output, modulation type, emission bandwidth, spurious and harmonic radiation levels, and receiver sensitivity. Where type approval has already been granted for a particular equipment type and published on the portal, a fresh application is not required.
What Is C-V2X and Why Does It Matter?
Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) is a communication technology that enables vehicles to exchange information with other vehicles (V2V), roadside infrastructure such as traffic signals and warning signs (V2I), pedestrians and cyclists (V2P), and wider network services (V2N). Operating in the 5875–5905 MHz band — part of the globally harmonised 5.9 GHz ITS spectrum — C-V2X supports real-time safety applications that go beyond what onboard sensors alone can achieve.
Where automotive radar (such as the 77–81 GHz systems covered by G.S.R. 468(E)) detects what is immediately around a vehicle, C-V2X communicates intent and hazard information beyond line of sight — enabling warnings about vehicles approaching intersections, emergency vehicles in proximity, road hazards ahead, and pedestrians obscured from direct view. Together, these technologies form the sensing and communication backbone of next-generation vehicle safety and autonomous driving systems.
The de-licensing of the 5.9 GHz band for C-V2X, issued together with the 77–81 GHz radar exemption, signals a clear strategic intent by the Indian government to remove the regulatory barriers to full Intelligent Transport System deployment across the country.
To read the official notification, access below.
How C-PRAV Can Support You
C-PRAV’s India team specialises in wireless and telecommunications equipment approvals, including WPC (Wireless Planning & Coordination) type approval processes. Manufacturers and suppliers of C-V2X On Board Units will still need to complete the DoT portal equipment type approval process and ensure conformity with applicable BIS or international technical standards under the new framework.
C-PRAV can assist with end-to-end type approval applications, technical documentation preparation, WPC compliance advisory, and certification management for C-V2X and connected vehicle technologies entering the Indian market.
Have questions? We’re here to help.