India Clears V2X Spectrum, Carmakers Seek Rules

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is now drafting the norms and guidelines that will govern commercial deployment.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director of JSW MG Motor India, said the technology is still some time away from live use. MG's Windsor electric vehicle already has vehicle-to-vehicle communication that alerts drivers in emergencies, he noted. V2X goes further by connecting cars to traffic lights, road signs, and networks. "The concept of V2X as a technology is still some time away. I haven't seen live cases of V2X," Mehrotra said. "We have to wait for some more time as V2X has to come with a lot of regulations. We also have to partner with an operator."

Cybersecurity risks are also part of the discussion. Iyer said passenger car protocols are already stringent globally and India follows those same standards. "Cars have enough protection for any vulnerability and generally cars are designed with a manual today for any failure," he added.

Mercedes-Benz already sells models in India with the hardware for V2X, including the S-Class. Iyer said the company has been advocating for the technology. The de-licensing of spectrum removes one barrier. The next step is the road ministry's rule-making process, which will define the technical and operational standards for carmakers to follow.