Inside TRAI's Plan To Make Indian Roads Safer: Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communication
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper proposing a regulatory framework for Vehicle-to-Everything communication, commonly referred to as V2X. The paper, released on April 29, 2026, invites feedback from industry stakeholders before a final framework is drawn up. At its core, the proposal is about making vehicles, road infrastructure and road users able to exchange real-time data wirelessly, so that drivers receive alerts and warnings before a hazard becomes visible.
V2X is an umbrella term for several types of vehicle communication. V2V means vehicle-to-vehicle, where cars exchange speed, direction and braking data with each other. V2I means vehicle-to-infrastructure, where vehicles communicate with traffic lights, road sensors and overhead gantries.
V2P means vehicle-to-pedestrian, where signals are shared with smartphones or wearables carried by people walking or cycling. Together, these systems create a network where a car knows what is happening around it beyond what its cameras and sensors can see directly.
TRAI's preferred technical approach is a cellular-based V2X architecture, meaning the system would run on existing 4G and 5G mobile networks rather than requiring an entirely new dedicated wireless infrastructure.
This is a practical choice because it means telecom operators, who have already built and are continuing to expand cellular networks across the country, would become the backbone of the connected vehicle ecosystem. Around 30 MHz of spectrum in the 5.9 GHz band has been identified for initial deployment.
A hardware unit in each vehicle would connect to the cellular network and continuously broadcast and receive data. The estimated hardware cost is in the range of Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 per vehicle, which is low enough to be mandated as standard equipment across vehicle categories without adding significantly to on-road prices.
The type of alerts this system enables include forward collision warnings when a vehicle ahead brakes hard, blind-spot alerts when another vehicle is in a position the driver cannot see, intersection warnings when a vehicle is approaching from a cross-street, and emergency vehicle notifications that let drivers know an ambulance or fire truck is approaching from any direction. These are all scenarios where knowing a fraction of a second earlier can be the difference between a near-miss and a collision.
Road fatalities remain a serious and persistent problem. A large proportion of severe accidents involve rear-end collisions, intersection crashes and side impacts, all scenarios where the driver had no early warning.
ADAS systems using cameras and radar are already being fitted to newer cars, but these are limited by line of sight. V2X adds a layer that works around blind corners, through heavy rain and in situations where sensors cannot see around obstructions. The two systems complement each other.
The proposal also covers the long-term path towards smarter traffic management and, eventually, autonomous vehicles. Connected vehicles generate and share data that city traffic management systems can use to reduce congestion, optimise signal timings and plan infrastructure better.
The consultation paper is the first formal step in a regulatory process. After the comment period closes, TRAI will review submissions and frame its recommendations. MoRTH would then need to notify rules under the Motor Vehicles Act for mandatory fitment in new vehicles, with a phased rollout to cover the existing fleet over time.
The government has been signalling intent on V2X for some time, with MoRTH previously indicating a target of notifying the technology by the end of 2026. TRAI's paper makes that timeline more credible by beginning the formal regulatory process. For future car buyers, vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity will become like ABS or airbags - a standard feature!