Centre notifies draft rules for delicensing lower 6 GHz band
NEW DELHI: The Central government has notified draft rules for delicensing the lower portion of the much-coveted
6 GHz band
, which is likely to boost the usage of low-power and very low-power wireless gear in India, and in particular, may benefit Wi-Fi broadband companies.
The Centre has proposed the draft rules in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 3(3) and 4(6) read with clauses (b) and (h) of sub-section (2) of section 56 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023), as per a gazette notification dated May 16, 2025.
The 'Use of Low Power and Very Low Power Wireless Access System including Radio Local Area Network in
Lower 6 GHz band
(Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2025' apply to the 5925-6425 MHz band, according to the notification.
The Centre said that no authorisation of frequency assignment shall be required to establish, maintain, work, possess, or deal in any wireless equipment for low-power indoor and very low-power outdoor wireless access in the 5925-6425 MHz on a non-interference, non-protection and shared basis, complying with technical parameters.
Globally, telecom regulators have delicensed the lower 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi, while the upper portion has been reserved for telecom operators.
ETTelecom, in its April 22, 2025, edition
, had reported on the ongoing tug-of-war between India's top incumbent telecom carriers and the Wi-Fi companies over the 6GHz band.
While telcos want airwaves in this mid-band range identified and auctioned for fifth-generation (5G) and 5G mobile services, the Wi-Fi companies have sought complete delicensing for providing broadband via Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 technologies.
London-headquartered GSMA, in a letter to Neeraj Mittal, secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), this year recommended that India's telecom regulator should include the upper portion in 6GHz (or 6.425-7.125GHz) in the next spectrum sale.
The
Cellular Operators Association of India
(COAI), which represents Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi), has supported GSMA's stance on the matter.
The Delhi-based telco grouping has been separately lobbying the Central government to get the entire 6GHz band to fill the spectrum shortage to cater to demand for
5G services
, and roll out sixth-generation (6G) networks in the future.
Multinational technology companies have staunchly opposed the telco industry's suggestion.
The technology companies, represented by the Broadband India Forum (BIF), have urged the Ministry of Communications to reconsider its decision to auction the 6GHz band
(5925-7125MHz) to telecom carriers, arguing that delays in delicensing these airwaves are causing an annual loss of ₹12.7 lakh crore to the government's exchequer.
The ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI), too, wrote to Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, suggesting the Central government delicense the lower portion of the 6GHz band (5925–6425MHz) to support next-generation Wi-Fi connectivity in the country and accelerate digital transformation initiatives,
ETTelecom had reported on April 21, 2025
.
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