Last month’s acquisition of Autotalks by Qualcomm wasn’t just a rescue sale of one of the world’s most interesting chip companies. It also marked a global milestone symbolizing the end of the long-standing rivalry between two competing V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication technologies: DSRC and C-V2X.

Founded in 2009 by Or Haren and led by CEO Hagai Zyss—who had previously served with Haren in an elite IDF technology unit—Autotalks raised about $150 million over the years. It was one of the first companies worldwide to develop chips for direct communication between vehicles and between vehicles and road infrastructure.

Autotalks focused on DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communications), a Wi-Fi-based communication protocol operating in the 5.9GHz band that was specifically adapted for V2X applications. At the time, DSRC was seen as the future of V2X: it was approved by the European Union, endorsed by the FCC in the United States, and widely tested by leading automakers.

Around a decade ago, Qualcomm identified the automotive sector as a key growth area and introduced its C-V2X (Cellular V2X) technology in 2017, initially branded as LTE-V2X. While cellular infrastructure was still based on 4G networks, DSRC maintained significant technical advantages, and the competition between the two technologies remained tight.

Qualcomm Didn’t Back Down

In response to the growing rivalry, Autotalks developed dual-standard chips supporting both DSRC and C-V2X. In Europe, where DSRC had strong support, the European Commission blocked Qualcomm’s initial merger attempt in May 2023, which was ultimately canceled in March 2024.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm pressed forward with its next-generation solution. In March 2020, the NR-V2X standard was formalized, enabling V2X applications over 5G networks. By 2024, 5G had become a dominant and widely available communication infrastructure worldwide. Its speed and broad bandwidth dramatically reduced DSRC’s main advantage—real-time communication.

Moreover, 5G includes a Sidelink channel that allows nearby devices to communicate directly, even without a central network. This capability is crucial for the next wave of V2X applications—known as “Day 2” systems—which go beyond basic safety alerts. While today’s V2X systems transmit basic location and motion data to prevent collisions, Day 2 platforms will enable vehicles to share rich sensor data, such as images from onboard cameras, radar, or LiDAR sensors. This data exchange will take place via the Sidelink channel, independent of cellular infrastructure.

The U.S. Follows China’s Lead

Both the market and regulators have begun favoring C-V2X. China was the first to embrace the technology, promoting its large-scale integration into smart city and roadway infrastructure. Even in Europe—once a stronghold of DSRC—major automakers such as Volkswagen and BMW shifted their support to C-V2X. In November 2024, the U.S. followed suit when the FCC reassigned most of the DSRC frequency spectrum to C-V2X systems.

While DSRC is not entirely dead, its dwindling market relevance no longer justifies regulatory intervention. That shift cleared the way for the European Commission to approve the Qualcomm–Autotalks merger on its second attempt.