The Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has published draft rules to exempt Short-Range Automotive Radar Systems operating in the 77 to 81 GHz frequency band from the mandatory frequency assignment requirement. These rules, titled the Use of Short-Range Automotive Radar System in the 77 to 81 GHz band (Exemption from Assignment Requirement) Rules, 2025, are issued under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The draft rules are published for public information, and objections or suggestions may be addressed to the Joint Secretary (Telecom), Department of Telecommunications, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, within thirty days from the date the notification is made available to the public.
Exemption and Technical Parameters
The core of the rules is the exemption from frequency assignment for wireless equipment used for short-range automotive radar systems in the 77 to 81 GHz band.
This exemption is granted on a non-interference, non-protection, and shared (non-exclusive) basis.
The systems must adhere to the following technical parameters:
| Technical characteristics | Short Range Automotive Radar |
| Max. Average EIRP | 50 dBm |
| Max. Peak e.i.r.p | 55 dBm |
| Max. Emission Bandwidth | 4 GHz |
| Maximum unwanted emissions Limit | -32 dBm/MHz |
Operational Restrictions and Interference
Operational Restriction
This use of the frequency band is strictly limited to vehicles only. The term “Vehicles” is broadly defined to include passenger cars, buses, trucks, aircraft while taxing, railroad trains, construction vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, and boats/ships operated within the territorial waters of India.
Interference Protocol
If a licensed system reports harmful interference from any radio equipment exempted under these rules, the Authority (to be notified by the Central Government) shall call upon the user of the unauthorized wireless equipment to take necessary steps to avoid interference (e.g., relocating the equipment, reducing power, using special antennae). Failure to comply may lead to a recommendation for discontinuation of the wireless use.
Equipment Approval
All wireless equipment must be type approved and designed and constructed to conform to the specified technical limits. The application for equipment type approval must be made to the Central Government in the format provided in the Annexure. Safety related requirements must adhere to International or National standards such as ITU, ETSI, ANSI, BIS, TEC, or ICNIRP.