India's Roads Cry for Smart Safety: Tech Giants Urge Delicensing of 5.9 GHz Band for V2V Communication

In a powerful push for enhanced road safety, a consortium of leading technology companies, spearheaded by giants like Qualcomm, is urging the Indian government to delicense a crucial segment of the 5.9 GHz radio frequency band. Their objective? To unlock the full potential of Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication, a groundbreaking technology poised to dramatically reduce road accidents and save countless lives across the nation.

India's roads, unfortunately, bear the grim statistic of being among the deadliest globally, with a staggering number of fatalities each year.

This makes the adoption of advanced safety systems not just a convenience, but an urgent imperative. V2V communication, powered by technologies like Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), allows vehicles to 'talk' to each other, sharing vital information about speed, direction, braking, and potential hazards in real-time.

Imagine a scenario where your car automatically warns you of an impending collision at a blind intersection, or alerts you to a sudden brake by the vehicle ahead, even before you see it. This is the promise of V2V.

The specific spectrum in contention is the 5.9 GHz band, specifically a portion between 5.850-5.925 GHz.

For V2V communication to function effectively and ubiquitously, it requires a dedicated, unlicensed chunk of spectrum, much like Wi-Fi operates in unlicensed bands. Tech companies argue that the current licensing framework or the lack thereof for this band in India acts as a significant roadblock, preventing automotive manufacturers from deploying these life-saving technologies.

Qualcomm, a pivotal player in wireless technology, has been a vocal advocate, submitting detailed recommendations to key regulatory bodies including the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

Their proposal emphasizes the global precedent: countries like the United States and those in Europe have already designated or delicensed portions of this band for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and V2V/V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communication. This global harmonization is critical for Indian manufacturers to integrate widely adopted and proven safety solutions into their vehicles.

TRAI itself recognized the importance of this initiative, having previously recommended the release of 75 MHz of spectrum in the 5.9 GHz band for ITS applications.

However, the critical final step lies with the DoT to act on these recommendations and formally delicense a substantial portion – ideally 30-40 MHz, if not the full 75 MHz – for safety-critical V2V deployments. This would pave the way for a new era of smart roads and safer commuting in India.

The benefits extend beyond just collision avoidance.

V2V technology can enable a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including blind-spot warnings, lane change assistance, traffic congestion management, and even emergency vehicle alerts that inform drivers of approaching ambulances or fire trucks long before they are visible. It’s a foundational technology for autonomous driving and smart city infrastructure, promising not only fewer accidents but also smoother traffic flow and reduced emissions.

While some telecom operators might eye this spectrum for other uses, such as 5G backhaul, the tech industry firmly asserts that the overwhelming public safety benefits of V2V communication far outweigh alternative commercial applications for this specific band.

The call from the technology sector is clear: prioritize human lives over potential revenue from a narrow band of spectrum. By making this strategic policy decision, the Indian government has the opportunity to lead the charge in creating a truly intelligent and safe transportation ecosystem for its citizens.