5.9 GHz — who has allocated what.
The ITS band is the same neighbourhood everywhere and almost never the same block. The differences — 20 MHz in China, 30 in the US, 50 proposed in India, 60 in Europe — determine whether a jurisdiction can run LTE-V2X and NR-V2X simultaneously, and therefore how long its Day-1 deployment stays viable.
Same neighbourhood everywhere, almost never the same block.
| Jurisdiction | Band | Width | Technology | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 5895–5925 MHz | 30 MHz | C-V2X only | Three 10 MHz channels, combinable to 20 or 30. Lower 45 MHz (5850–5895) reallocated to unlicensed U-NII-4 in 2020. |
| European Union | 5875–5935 MHz | 60 MHz | Technology neutral | Per Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1426; member states to designate by 30 June 2021. Top 10 MHz (5925–5935) shared with urban rail ITS / CBTC. |
| China | 5905–5925 MHz | 20 MHz | LTE-V2X only | MIIT, 21 October 2018. Single channel. The narrowest major allocation. |
| South Korea | 5855–5875 MHz | 20 MHz allocated | LTE-V2X Direct | Plus 5875–5925 MHz (50 MHz) reserved for ITS expansion. |
| Japan | 5895–5925 MHz planned | 30 MHz planned | C-V2X | MIC Frequency Reorganization Action Plan (FY2024 version, 13 Dec 2024); assignment targeted for completion by FY2026. Planned, not yet allocated. Legacy 760 MHz ITS Connect and 5.8 GHz ETC 2.0 continue. |
| India | 5875–5925 MHz proposed | 50 MHz proposed | C-V2X | 30 MHz (5875–5905) for initial deployment, 20 MHz (5905–5925) reserved for future ITS. 5875–5905 MHz already licence-exempt for OBUs under G.S.R. 466(E), 10 June 2026. |
| Australia | 5.9 GHz | — | Both permitted | ACMA class licence, no individual licence and no fee, subject to compliance with European C-ITS standards and ACMA equipment standards. |
Channel plan and power, in detail.
Final rules from the FCC's Second Report and Order, FCC 24-123, effective 11 February 2025.
- Three 10 MHz channels: 5895–5905, 5905–5915, 5915–5925 MHz, combinable to 20 or 30 MHz without restriction.
- Industry practice has settled on 5905–5925 MHz (20 MHz) as the primary LTE-V2X safety channel, holding 5895–5905 MHz for later use once standards mature — it is also the channel most exposed to out-of-band emissions from the adjacent unlicensed U-NII-4 band.
- RSU power: 33 dBm EIRP power spectral density per 10, 20 or 30 MHz, measured RMS. Antenna height capped at 15 m, with power reduction required above 8 m.
- OBU power: up to 33 dBm EIRP outside federal coordination zones, with geofencing required. Inside coordination zones, 23 dBm on 5895–5905 MHz and 27 dBm within ±5° horizontal on the other channels. Non-geofenced OBUs are held to coordination-zone limits everywhere.
- Out-of-band emissions: −16 dBm/100 kHz within ±1 MHz of the band edge; −13 dBm/MHz from ±1 to ±5 MHz; −16 dBm/MHz from ±5 to ±30 MHz; −28 dBm/MHz beyond.
- Licensing: non-exclusive, non-auctioned. RSUs licensed to local government entities and Industrial/Business Pool licensees; OBUs licensed by rule. Registered RSUs must be constructed and operational within 12 months or the registration terminates.
- The FCC explicitly declined to mandate a specific 3GPP release.
Two instruments, at two different levels, and they are frequently conflated.
The designation — TRAI Consultation Paper No. 08/2026 proposes 5875–5925 MHz, following the MoRTH ITS Task Force Part-1 report which recommended the full range at a maximum 4 W EIRP (36 dBm) for both OBUs and RSUs.
The licence exemption — G.S.R. 466(E), 10 June 2026, notifying the Use of On Board Unit for Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything Communication in the 5.9 GHz Band (Exemption from Licensing Requirements) Rules, 2026, under the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933. It covers 5875–5905 MHz only, OBUs only, at maximum power spectral density 23 dBm/MHz, maximum in-band EIRP 33 dBm, out-of-band emissions −30 dBm/MHz, on a non-interference, non-protection, non-exclusive basis.
Two things follow. RSUs are not covered — consistent with the position that RSU deployment requires authorisation. And equipment type approval through the DoT portal remains mandatory — the exemption removes spectrum licensing, not equipment approval. India's V2X framework in full →
Where this fits.
C-V2X
Why 30 MHz is tight once LTE-V2X and NR-V2X must coexist on separate carriers.
US regulation
The proceedings behind the 30 MHz allocation, and the DSRC sunset.
India regulation
The designation, the exemption, and the draft mandate on top of both.
DSRC vs C-V2X
The technology decision each of these allocations encodes.
EU regulation
The 60 MHz band, and the urban rail sharing arrangement at the top of it.
Asia-Pacific
Japan's planned assignment, Korea's allocation, and Australia's class licence.
Questions this page answers.
What frequency does V2X use?
The 5.9 GHz band, broadly 5.85 to 5.95 GHz depending on jurisdiction. The exact allocation varies: 30 MHz in the US, 60 MHz in the EU, 20 MHz in China, 50 MHz proposed in India.
Do I need a licence to operate a V2X on-board unit in India?
No spectrum licence, as of G.S.R. 466(E) of 10 June 2026, provided the unit operates in 5875–5905 MHz within the specified power limits on a non-interference, non-protection basis. You do still need equipment type approval through the DoT portal.
Do I need a licence to operate a roadside unit in India?
Yes, and the eligibility question is not yet settled. The TRAI consultation, following MoRTH's position, indicates RSU authorisation restricted to central and state governments and their authorised agencies, with private entities considered only for non-safety applications. TRAI's recommendations were still pending as of mid-August 2026.
Why is the US allocation only 30 MHz?
The FCC's November 2020 First Report and Order reallocated the lower 45 MHz of the original 75 MHz ITS band (5850–5895 MHz) to unlicensed Wi-Fi, retaining only the upper 30 MHz for ITS. ITS America has since campaigned for additional spectrum; 78% of its 2024 survey respondents supported it.