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