Disclosed are systems and techniques for wireless communications. In one example, a method for wireless communications performed at a first user equipment (UE) can include determining at least one active interference cancellation (AIC) area for protection during a sidelink communication. In some aspects, the method can include determining one or more frequency subcarriers associated with protection of the at least one AIC area during the sidelink communication, wherein transmission of the one or more frequency subcarriers is configured to reduce interference within the at least one AIC area.