The federal government has officially released the lower 6 GHz spectrum band at licence-exempt power levels, a development set to give indoor Wi-Fi users a performance boost and pave the way for new standards such as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7. Announced by the Department of Telecommunications on January 20, the determination permits licence-exempt operation of low-power indoor and very low-power outdoor wireless systems in the 5925-6425 MHz band. The decision comes after months of infighting between telecom operators and technology firms over the future of the 6 GHz spectrum.
500 MHz of Spectrum De-Licensed for Wi-Fi
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released the Low Power and Very Low Power Wireless Access System Rules, 2026, which de-licenses 500 MHz of spectrum in the lower 6 GHz range. Wireless local area network (or Wi-Fi) devices can use the airwaves on an unlicensed basis, as long as they operate in a shared, non-exclusive way and comply with strict technical criteria.
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Power Limits and Technical Conditions
Device Type | Maximum Power Limit |
Low-power indoor devices | 30 dBm EIRP |
Very low-power outdoor devices | 14 dBm EIRP |
To prevent interference with licensed services (such as backhaul networks and satellites), devices are required to implement contention-based protocols, integrated antennas and emission and bandwidth limits.
Usage Restrictions
The rules impose several operational limits:
- Indoor use is banned on land vehicles, boats, and aircraft, except above 10,000 feet
- Use on oil platforms is prohibited
- Communication with drones and unmanned aerial systems is not allowed
- Strict out-of-band emission controls must be followed
Industry Response and Policy Background
The move comes after a preliminary decision was published in May 2025 and lobbying by technology companies such as Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Meta, HP and Intel to de-license the whole of the 6 GHz band. Reliance Jio had also opposed the move, saying that the entire band should be sold for mobile services. Also the upper 6 GHz band (6425-7125 MHz) is kept for advanced mobile services in the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NAmFAP).
Conclusion
By making the lower 6 GHz band available for unlicensed use, the government hopes to boost indoor broadband quality and deliver multi-gigabit Wi-Fi speeds in homes and offices. The plan will complement the already underway 5G rollout and take pressure off existing Wi-Fi networks. Leaving the upper 6 GHz band for mobile, the policy leaves opportunity open for future decisions as wireless demand increases and seeks to strike a balance between the needs of telecom operators and technology companies.