Govt Scraps Licensing for Automotive Radars in Safety Tech Boost
The DoT also specifies technical parameters for exempted equipment. “The maximum average equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) has been capped at 50 dBm, while the maximum peak EIRP is limited to 55 dBm. The maximum emission bandwidth has been fixed at 4 GHz,” the DoT said in its notification.
New Delhi: The department of telecommunications (DoT) under the telecommunications ministry on Friday exempted short-range automotive radar systems operating in the 77–81 GHz frequency band from licensing requirements. The move of the government is expected to support the adoption of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and vehicle safety technologies across India.
The exemption aligns India’s regulatory regime with global practices for automotive radar technologies, which are increasingly being deployed for collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection and other safety applications in connected and autonomous vehicles.
In the advanced driver assistance systems, it assists drivers while using sensors, cameras, and software in navigating hazards and routine tasks, serving as a critical step toward fully autonomous driving. The DoT rules, however, cover radar systems installed in vehicles, including passenger cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, construction vehicles, trains, aircraft while taxiing, and vessels operating within Indian territorial waters.
The DoT also specifies technical parameters for exempted equipment. “The maximum average equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) has been capped at 50 dBm, while the maximum peak EIRP is limited to 55 dBm. The maximum emission bandwidth has been fixed at 4 GHz,” the DoT said in its notification.
It is, however, noted that the manufacturers and users must ensure that the systems do not cause harmful interference to licensed radio services. In cases where interference is reported, authorities may direct users to discontinue operation or take corrective measures such as relocating equipment, reducing transmission power, or using specified antennas.
