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Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India proposes to address unauthorised non-GSO activities as space sector booms
NEW DELHI: India, led by the ITU-APT Foundation of India ( IAFI ), Isro and government officials, has proposed to address the unauthorised non-geostationary satellite orbit (non-GSO) earth station operations within the fixed-satellite service (FSS) and mobile-satellite service (MSS) segments. To this extent, the IAFI presented a detailed proposal at the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) Working Party 4A and 4C meetings held in Shanghai, China, recently. 'The proposal, presented by Bharat Bhatia, president of IAFI, received strong support from participating member states and marked a significant step in global regulatory discussions ahead of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27),' said IAFI. The Central government developed the proposal along with IAFI, the statement added. India's submission presented clear methodologies to strengthen the enforcement of existing frameworks while 'preserving the integrity and growth of legitimate non-GSO activities', as per the statement. 'India's proposal reflects our deep commitment to ensuring the responsible and sustainable use of the satellite spectrum and orbital resources. As the space industry continues to grow rapidly, there is an urgent need for global cooperation in curbing unauthorised operations that could threaten the stability of satellite services,' Bhatia said.
India.com
21-05-2025
- India.com
Modi govt's masterstroke, 6 GHz band will be free, get wifi faster than ever, internet speed at your home will be…
Your home Wi-Fi can get faster than earlier. The government has decided to allow unlicensed use of a part of the 6 GHz spectrum band. This will make an additional 500 MHz spectrum available for Wi-Fi and improve internet speed and network capacity. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released draft regulations for this and invited suggestions from the public until June 15. Afterward, these regulations will be implemented. These rules shall be applicable in the 5925 – 6425 MHz band, the draft said. According to media reports internet speeds in the 6 GHz band can reach up to 9.6 Gbps. The maximum speed in the 5 GHz band is just 1.3 Gbps, while the 2.4 GHz band gives only 600 Mbps. Over 84 countries like the USA, UK, and South Korea, have already opened this band for Wi-Fi use. Until now, Wi-Fi in India has been operating on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, which have become congested. In this context, the 6 GHz band can be a game-changer for modern technologies like high-speed gaming, smart devices, and AR/VR. For Low Power Indoor devices, the power output is proposed to be capped at 30 dBm or decibel-milliwatts (vs. 53 dBm in 5 GHz) to avoid interference. It has also spelt out some operational restrictions, prohibiting use on oil platforms, among them. '…Indoor use is prohibited on Land vehicles (that is cars, trains) and boats, aircraft except when flying above 10,000 feet…Communication with and control of Drones and Unmanned Aerial Systems is prohibited,' it said. The ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) described the decision to delicense the lower 500 MHz of the 6 GHz band as 'visionary' and said it paves the way for unlicensed use of this critical mid-band spectrum by low power and very low power wireless access systems, including next-generation Wi-Fi technologies such as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7. IAFI said it has been a firm advocate for delicensing the lower 6 GHz band for several years, given the tremendous potential of this spectrum to unlock new possibilities for digital inclusion, local manufacturing, and economic growth. '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 6GHz band, including the US, UK, South Korea, and members of the EU,' Bharat Bhatia, President of IAFI, said. According to IAFI, the 6 GHz band offers a vast and clean swath of spectrum—free from legacy congestion in the traditional 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands. Its availability is critical to meet the surging demand for bandwidth from data-intensive applications such as 4K streaming, AR/VR (augmented reality/virtual reality), online gaming, Internet of Things services, and high-resolution video conferencing. '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,' IAFI said in a statement. Industry body BIF said the government's draft notification to exempt the 5925–6425 MHz band from licensing is a move long-overdue, but was quick to point out that 'a fraction of the band cannot deliver the full-scale impact we seek'. It is much-needed first step towards unlocking the 'immense potential' of the 6 GHz band for India's digital and economic transformation, and places India on the same path taken by over 84 nations that have already delicensed either part or all of this band, it said on the delicencing move. BIF, however, added in the same breath that the complete benefits of license exemption of 6GHz spectrum band can only be realised when at least an additional 160 MHz is delicensed – taking the total to at least 660 MHz. 'While a notable milestone, this is just the prologue to the full story. The true transformative power of the 6GHz band can only be harnessed when we move beyond this initial suboptimal chunk of 500 MHz,' said TV Ramachandran, President BIF said in a release. Delicensing the additional portion as suggested will ensure that at least two users could get a 320 MHz wide channel simultaneously for high-speed applications and data usage and will also ensure that any combination of channel bandwidths of 320, 160 and 80 MHz could be used for deployment of advanced Wi-Fi technologies, Ramachandran added. '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 breathe life into the vision of Viksit Bharat,' he added. (With Inputs From PTI)
India Today
20-05-2025
- India Today
Centre pushes draft rules to free up 6 GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi 6E and 7 networks
The Indian government has proposed a new rule to allow the use of a faster Wi-Fi frequency called the 6 GHz band — but only indoors. This means Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers can now use this special frequency, which was previously not allowed. Most routers today use the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands, but those are crowded and can slow things down. The 6 GHz band is less crowded and faster. Many countries like the US and the UK already use it, and it looks like India is joining Centre has released a draft rule to delicense a portion of the 6 GHz spectrum — specifically from 5925 MHz to 6425 MHz. This means people can use this part of the frequency without needing special government permission or a licence, as long as it's for indoor use. This move will mainly help Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 devices, which are built to use the 6 GHz band. Until now, these routers were stuck using only the older 5 GHz band in India, which is already per the draft rules: 'No authorisation or frequency assignment shall be required to establish, maintain, work, possess or deal in any wireless equipment for the purpose of Lower Power Indoor and Very Low Power outdoor wireless access systems operating in the frequency band 5925-6425 MHz on non-interference, non-protection and shared (non-exclusive) basis.'advertisementIn simple terms, you just need to know that if you have a Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 router, or maybe you are planning to get one in the future, you could benefit from faster internet speeds, lower delay or lag and smoother video calls, gaming, and streaming. But remember, this only applies to indoor use. The new band can't be used in cars, boats, planes, or for drones. Also, only low-power devices are allowed, so it doesn't interfere with groups like IAFI and BIF have praised this move. They say it will help boost digital access, especially for schools, hospitals, and rural areas. It also brings India closer to what over 100 countries are already doing. Bharat Bhatia, President of IAFI, called it a 'visionary' decision, adding that it 'aligns India with global digital growth and opens doors for next-generation connectivity.'However, BIF added that 500 MHz is a good start, but more of the 6 GHz band should be opened in the future to get the full benefits. 'While a notable milestone, this is just the prologue to the full story,' said BIF President TV Ramachandran, urging for an additional 160 MHz to be delicensed.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centre issues draft rules to delicense lower segment of 6 GHz band for indoor use
The Centre has released draft rules proposing the delicensing of the lower segment of the 6 GHz band for unlicensed indoor use. The move, which applies to the 5925–6425 MHz frequency band, is aimed at enabling next-generation Wi-Fi technologies and supporting data-heavy applications. According to the draft, no authorisation or frequency assignment will be required for establishing or operating wireless equipment for Low Power Indoor (LPI) and Very Low Power Outdoor (VLP) wireless systems, including radio local area networks, on a non-interference, non-protection, and shared basis, PTI reported. The draft outlines technical parameters, proposing a power cap of 30 dBm (decibel-milliwatts) for Low Power Indoor devices—significantly lower than the 53 dBm allowed in the 5 GHz band—to prevent interference. It also includes operational restrictions, prohibiting indoor use of such devices on oil platforms, land vehicles like cars and trains, boats, and aircraft—except when flying above 10,000 feet. Additionally, communication with and control of drones and unmanned aerial systems is explicitly banned. The ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) welcomed the move, calling it 'visionary' and stating that it will pave the way for unlicensed use of a key mid-band spectrum segment by low-power wireless systems, including Wi-Fi 6E and upcoming Wi-Fi 7 technologies. "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 6GHz band, including the US, UK, South Korea, and members of the EU," said Bharat Bhatia, President of IAFI. IAFI noted that the 6 GHz band is a clean and expansive spectrum range, free from legacy congestion seen in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The spectrum is crucial to accommodate the rising bandwidth demands from 4K video streaming, AR/VR, online gaming, IoT services, and high-resolution video conferencing. "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. Industry group Broadband India Forum (BIF) also lauded the draft notification but emphasised that delicensing a portion of the band may not be enough to fully unlock its potential. "A fraction of the band cannot deliver the full-scale impact we seek", BIF said, describing the draft as a much-needed first step towards India's digital and economic transformation. It noted that more than 84 countries have already delicensed either part or all of the 6 GHz band. BIF President TV Ramachandran underlined the need for additional spectrum to be delicensed for maximum benefit. "While a notable milestone, this is just the prologue to the full story. The true transformative power of the 6GHz band can only be harnessed when we move beyond this initial suboptimal chunk of 500 MHz," he said. He added that delicensing an additional 160 MHz—raising the total to at least 660 MHz—would allow two users to simultaneously access 320 MHz channels for high-speed data use, enabling broader deployment of Wi-Fi 6E and 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 breathe life into the vision of Viksit Bharat," Ramachandran said. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centre issues draft rules to delicense chunk of 6 GHz band for indoor use
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Centre has notified the draft rules to delicense the lower chunk of 6 GHz band for unlicensed indoor use , a move that experts say will benefit the Wi-Fi broadband space by opening up data-intensive applications. These rules shall be applicable in the 5925 - 6425 MHz band, the draft said."No authorisation or frequency assignment shall be required to establish, maintain, work, possess or deal in any wireless equipment for the purpose of Lower Power Indoor and Very Low Poweroutdoor wireless access systems, including radio local area networks operating in the frequency band 5925-6425 MHz on noninterference, non-protection and shared (nonexclusive) basis...," the draft notification said stipulating some technical Low Power Indoor devices, the power output is proposed to be capped at 30 dBm or decibel-milliwatts (vs. 53 dBm in 5 GHz) to avoid has also spelt out some operational restrictions, prohibiting use on oil platforms, among them."...Indoor use is prohibited on Land vehicles (that is cars, trains) and boats, aircraft except when flying above 10,000 with and control of Drones and Unmanned Aerial Systems is prohibited," it ITU-APT Foundation of India ( IAFI ) described the decision to delicense the lower 500 MHz of the 6 GHz band as "visionary" and said it paves the way for unlicensed use of this critical mid-band spectrum by low power and very low power wireless access systems , including next-generation Wi-Fi technologies such as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 IAFI said it has been a firm advocate for delicensing the lower 6 GHz band for several years, given the tremendous potential of this spectrum to unlock new possibilities for digital inclusion , local manufacturing, and economic growth."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 6GHz band, including the US, UK, South Korea, and members of the EU," Bharat Bhatia, President of IAFI, to IAFI, the 6 GHz band offers a vast and clean swath of spectrum-free from legacy congestion in the traditional 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands. Its availability is critical to meet the surging demand for bandwidth from data-intensive applications such as 4K streaming, AR/VR (augmented reality/virtual reality), online gaming, Internet of Things services, and high-resolution video conferencing."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," IAFI said in a body BIF said the government's draft notification to exempt the 5925-6425 MHz band from licensing is a move long-overdue, but was quick to point out that "a fraction of the band cannot deliver the full-scale impact we seek".It is much-needed first step towards unlocking the "immense potential" of the 6 GHz band for India's digital and economic transformation, and places India on the same path taken by over 84 nations that have already delicensed either part or all of this band, it said on the delicencing however, added in the same breath that the complete benefits of license exemption of 6GHz spectrum band can only be realised when at least an additional 160 MHz is delicensed - taking the total to at least 660 MHz."While a notable milestone, this is just the prologue to the full story. The true transformative power of the 6GHz band can only be harnessed when we move beyond this initial suboptimal chunk of 500 MHz," said TV Ramachandran, President BIF said in a the additional portion as suggested will ensure that at least two users could get a 320 MHz wide channel simultaneously for high-speed applications and data usage and will also ensure that any combination of channel bandwidths of 320, 160 and 80 MHz could be used for deployment of advanced Wi-Fi technologies, Ramachandran added."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 breathe life into the vision of Viksit Bharat," he added.
