- By Prateek Levi
- Thu, 22 May 2025 01:03 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Delicensing The 6GHz Band Wi-Fi: India is taking a major step toward enhancing wireless connectivity by proposing to open up the lower 6 GHz frequency range (5925–6425 MHz) for unlicensed indoor use. The government has issued draft rules aimed at supporting high-speed internet applications and next-generation Wi-Fi technologies.
If the proposal goes through, devices that operate under Low Power Indoor (LPI) and Very Low Power Outdoor (VLP) categories—such as home routers and local area networks—would no longer need licenses or frequency clearances. These devices would instead run on a shared, interference-free basis, according to a report by PTI.
To ensure smooth use without disruption, the draft includes strict technical controls. Indoor devices would be limited to a transmission power of 30 dBm, much lower than the 53 dBm permitted in the 5 GHz band. The use of such equipment would also be restricted in high-risk or mobile environments like oil rigs, cars, trains, boats, and aeroplanes—unless airborne above 10,000 feet. Drone operations would be off-limits entirely.
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The ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) called the proposal a step in the right direction, especially as India catches up with global standards.
“This bold move by the government is a game-changer for India's digital future. This decision aligns India with over 100 countries that have already opened up the 6 GHz band, including the US, UK, South Korea, and members of the EU,” said Bharat Bhatia, President of IAFI.
IAFI highlighted that the 6 GHz band doesn’t suffer from the overcrowding seen in previous spectrum bands, making it a strong fit for demanding uses like ultra-HD streaming, immersive VR, online gaming, connected devices, and crisp video calls.
“Wi-Fi 6E, operating in this newly delicensed band, promises speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps, ultra-low latency, and greater capacity, delivering a quantum leap in user experience and digital productivity,” the foundation added.
The Broadband India Forum (BIF) also welcomed the draft rules, though it emphasised that the current proposal might not be enough on its own.
“A fraction of the band cannot deliver the full-scale impact we seek,” BIF stated, calling the move “a much-needed first step towards India’s digital and economic transformation.” The group noted that over 84 countries have already opened up all or part of the 6 GHz spectrum.
BIF President TV Ramachandran believes India should go further to unlock the full potential of the frequency.
“While a notable milestone, this is just the prologue to the full story. The true transformative power of the 6 GHz band can only be harnessed when we move beyond this initial suboptimal chunk of 500 MHz,” he said.
He urged the government to delicence an additional 160 MHz of spectrum, which would bring the total available to 660 MHz. That would be enough to support two 320 MHz channels simultaneously—ideal for deploying ultra-fast Wi-Fi 6E and the upcoming Wi-Fi 7.
“An adequate chunk of delicensed 6 GHz band is required in order to power next-generation technologies like Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, which are set to become foundational to our digital public infrastructure. This would serve as the backbone for delivering affordable, high-speed, low-latency connectivity—powering smart schools, hospitals, factories, cities and villages and breathing life into the vision of Viksit Bharat,” Ramachandran said.
