India C-V2X 5.9 GHz De-Licensing: DoT Exempts OBUs

India De-Licenses the 5.9 GHz Band for C-V2X On Board Units: DoT Removes Spectrum Licensing for V2X Safety Communication

India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has removed the spectrum licensing barrier that stood between globally developed connected vehicle hardware and the Indian market. Through Gazette notification G.S.R. 466(E), dated 10 June 2026, the Department exempted Cellular Vehicle to Everything (C-V2X) On Board Units (OBUs) operating in the 5875–5905 MHz band from spectrum licensing requirements. The rules formally the Use of On Board Unit for Cellular Vehicle to Everything Communication in the 5.9 GHz Band (Exemption from Licensing Requirements) Rules, 2026 took effect immediately upon publication and are now in force.

For auto manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers, and V2X module vendors, the change removes one gating dependency from the Indian deployment path. It does not, however, remove the equipment-approval obligations that still govern market entry a distinction that matters for anyone planning a compliant launch.

What Changed Under India's C-V2X 5.9 GHz De-Licensing

Before this notification, OBUs operating in the 5.9 GHz band for V2X communication fell within India's radio licensing regime, requiring authorisation to possess and operate. That requirement placed India out of step with markets such as the United States and the European Union, where the 5.9 GHz range has long been earmarked for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), and it added cost and delay to every deployment of otherwise standards compliant hardware.

G.S.R. 466(E), issued under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, changes that. Under the new rules:

• No radio frequency assignment is required for the establishment, maintenance, or operation of an OBU in the 5875–5905 MHz band as part of an ITS 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. Exempt OBUs must not cause harmful interference to licensed systems and may not claim protection from interference; where a complaint is received, the DoT may direct remediation such as relocating equipment, reducing power, or changing the antenna.

  
  

The notification is the second pillar of a coordinated ITS enablement package. It was published alongside G.S.R. 468(E), which de licensed the 77–81 GHz band for short range automotive radar the sensing counterpart to C-V2X's beyond line of sight communication.

Scope: On Board Units, Not Roadside Infrastructure

A precise reading of the instrument matters here. The exemption is written for On Board Units radio equipment (including its antenna) installed on, forming part of, or carried in relation to a vehicle as part of an ITS. That definition is deliberately broad, covering factory fitted systems, aftermarket installations, and personal devices used in relation to a vehicle.

It does not, by itself, de license the roadside unit (RSU) side of vehicle to infrastructure communication. Under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's V2X framework, RSU deployment is expected to remain subject to authorisation (with permissions likely limited to government bodies or their authorised agencies). Manufacturers should therefore read "V2I" here as the OBU end of that link the vehicle mounted radio rather than as blanket authorisation to deploy roadside infrastructure.

What This Means for Manufacturers

The headline benefit is real: the spectrum licensing dependency that slowed C-V2X rollout in India is gone for OBUs. But de licensing is not the same as de regulation, and the compliance path still runs through equipment approval.

• Type approval remains mandatory. The licensing exemption does not remove the requirement for equipment type approval. Each OBU type must be registered through the DoT/WPC portal using the application form set out in the Schedule to the rules, covering transmitter and receiver specifications (frequency range, power output, modulation, emission bandwidth, spurious and harmonic radiation, and receiver sensitivity). Where type approval has already been granted for an equipment type and published on the portal, a fresh application is not required.

• Standards conformity is a condition, not an option. OBUs must conform to standards notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or the Central Government. Where no such Indian standard has been published, the relevant international standards from bodies including the ITU, ETSI, ANSI, and ICNIRP apply. Build your test evidence accordingly.

• RF limits are the design envelope. Operation is conditional on compliance with in-band EIRP, power spectral density, and out of band emission limits measured within the 5875–5905 MHz band. Validate hardware and test protocols against these limits before submission.

• Operating risk sits with the device. Because the exemption is non protection and non interference, the burden of avoiding harmful interference and the exposure to remediation directions rests with the OBU. Factor this into deployment and antenna decisions.

• Watch the fitment mandate. A MoRTH draft notification (August 2026) proposes mandatory factory fitted C-V2X OBUs across new vehicles under AIS-230, with a proposed timeline toward October 2028. If enacted, this converts a market opportunity into a compliance requirement align product roadmaps early.

  
  

Certification Impact Summary

Dimension	Position under G.S.R. 466(E)	Manufacturer impact
Spectrum licensing (OBU)	Exempt no RF assignment or licence for 5875–5905 MHz OBUs	Removes a gating dependency; no individual spectrum licence needed
Equipment type approval	Unchanged still mandatory via DoT/WPC portal	Type approval is now the primary market access gate
Standards conformity	BIS-notified standards; else ITU / ETSI / ANSI / ICNIRP	Prepare test evidence to BIS or applicable international standards
Operating conditions	Non interference, non protection, non exclusive	Interference avoidance and remediation risk sit with the device
Roadside units (V2I infra)	Not de-licensed by this instrument	RSU deployment may require separate authorisation

Timeline and Required Actions

Date / stage	Milestone	Required action
10 June 2026	G.S.R. 466(E) published and in force	Treat OBU spectrum licensing as no longer required for 5875–5905 MHz
Immediate	De-licensing effective	Re-scope India market access plans around type approval, not spectrum licensing
Pre-launch	Standards conformity	Confirm applicable BIS-notified standard; where none, apply ITU / ETSI / ANSI / ICNIRP
Pre-launch	Type approval registration	Register each OBU type via the DoT portal (Schedule form); reuse existing published approvals where available
Ongoing	Interference obligations	Maintain non interference operation; be prepared to act on any DoT remediation direction
Watch (draft)	MoRTH AIS-230 V2V mandate (Aug 2026 draft; proposed Oct 2028 fitment)	Monitor progress; align C-V2X product roadmap to a potential fleet wide fitment mandate