EU: New frequency channels for radio equipment for road and urban rail intelligent transport systems. 

 

The EU has published a Draft Commission Implementing Decision, amending Commission Decision (EU) 2020/1426, as regards introducing wider frequency channels in the EU-harmonised 5.9 GHz frequency band for safety-related applications of road intelligent transport systems (ITS). 

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1426 establishes harmonised conditions for the availability and efficient use of the 5 875–5 935 MHz frequency band (the “5.9 GHz band”) to support safety-related applications in road and urban rail intelligent transport systems (ITS). 

Recent standardisation developments enable the use of 20 MHz channels within the 5 875–5 925 MHz range allocated to road ITS safety applications. Allowing access to these wider channels, alongside the currently harmonised 10 MHz channels, would support both basic and advanced use cases. This would bring benefits such as simpler implementation and improved spectrum efficiency, while preserving a technology-neutral approach to spectrum use. 

On 24 January 2025, in accordance with Article 4(2) of Decision 676/2002/EC, the Commission mandated the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) to review and update the harmonised technical conditions set out in Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1426, with the aim of enabling wider frequency channels in the 5.9 GHz band for road ITS safety applications. 

In response, CEPT adopted Report 91 on 7 November 2025. This report defines harmonised technical conditions for introducing wider channels in the band and concludes that two adjacent 10 MHz channels can be combined into a single 20 MHz channel for road ITS safety applications. It also notes that, until solutions are available to ensure the protection of urban rail ITS in the 5 915–5 925 MHz range, use of the 20 MHz channel in the 5 905–5 925 MHz band should be restricted to infrastructure-to-vehicle communications. In addition, the report recommends updates to the technical and operational conditions set out in Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1426. 

Accordingly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1426 will be amended. 

To find out more about vehicle regulations in the EU, do not hesitate to contact the Institute for Global Automotive Regulatory Research directly.