Wi-Fi Speeds Set to Improve as Government De-Licenses 6 GHz Spectrum
The Department of Telecom has officially notified the de-licensing of 500 megahertz of spectrum in the lower frequency range of the 6 GHz band, a move expected to significantly boost Wi-Fi services in India. This decision around the 6 GHz spectrum is seen as a major step toward improving wireless connectivity, especially as demand for faster and more reliable Wi-Fi services continues to rise across homes, offices, and public spaces.
Draft Notification Turns Into Policy Action
The notification comes nearly six months after the government first indicated its intent through a draft Gazette Notification issued on May 16, 2025. At the time, the proposal to de-license part of the 6 GHz spectrum had drawn wide attention from technology companies and telecom stakeholders who see Wi-Fi services as a critical pillar of India’s digital growth.
As per the Department of Telecom notification, “No licence or frequency assignment shall be required by any person to establish, maintain, work, possess or deal in any wireless equipment for the purpose of low power indoor and very low power outdoor wireless access systems, including radio local area networks operating in the frequency band 5925-6425 MHz on a non-interference, non-protection and shared (non-exclusive) basis.” This clarification ensures smoother deployment of Wi-Fi services within the de-licensed portion of the 6 GHz spectrum.
While the lower 6 GHz spectrum has been opened up for Wi-Fi, the newly identified 6425-6725 MHz and 6725-7125 MHz frequencies fall under the upper 6 GHz band. These frequencies form part of the broader 6425-7125 MHz range, which has been earmarked for future mobile and advanced wireless services rather than immediate Wi-Fi deployment.
NFAP Defines Spectrum Use Across Technologies
The Department of Telecom, through the National Frequency Allocation Plan, has clearly identified the upper frequencies of the 6 GHz spectrum band for advanced mobile services. NFAP plays a critical role in defining how spectrum is allocated across different technologies, ensuring that Wi-Fi services, mobile networks, and future innovations can coexist without interference.
Global technology majors such as Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Meta, HP, and Intel Corporation have jointly called for the de-licensing of the entire 1200 megahertz spectrum available in the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi services. On the other hand, Reliance Jio has argued that the full 1200 MHz spectrum should be included in upcoming spectrum auctions, despite the government’s decision to de-license 500 MHz of the lower 6 GHz spectrum for low-power Wi-Fi applications.
Strict Power Limits to Protect Network Integrity
The Department of Telecom notification has imposed strict emission power limits, making the spectrum suitable for Wi-Fi device operations while preventing its use for high-power mobile antennas. According to the notification, “Power spectral density shall be suppressed by 20 dB at 1 MHz outside of channel edge, by 28 dB at one channel bandwidth from the channel centre, and by 40 dB at one and one-half times the channel bandwidth away from channel centre," ensuring safe and interference-free Wi-Fi services.
Wi-Fi to Complement 5G and Prepare for 6G
Bharat Bhatia, President, ITU-APT Foundation of India, highlighted that Wi-Fi services in the lower 6 GHz spectrum will complement the ongoing rollout of 5G networks and support future 6G readiness. He noted that this move will improve indoor broadband experiences and deliver higher Wi-Fi speeds at homes and offices, strengthening India’s overall digital infrastructure.
Need for Higher Power in Large Venues
Bhatia also pointed out the limitations of current outdoor power levels, saying, “While the lower power levels currently proposed to be authorized for outdoor usage up to 0.1 milliwatt will greatly support industrial automation and AI, the government needs to consider standard power up to 4 watts to address the needs of high-speed data and video in larger venues such as stadiums, concert halls, or airport terminals." This highlights the evolving demands on Wi-Fi services using the 6 GHz spectrum.
Wi-Fi 7 Seen as a Game Changer for India
Anupam Shrivastava , Independent Director at Lava International and former BSNL chairman and managing director, said the notification effectively resolves indoor connectivity bottlenecks. According to him, the de-licensing of the 6 GHz spectrum will allow the multi-gigabit capacity of India’s fiber infrastructure to reach end users through Wi-Fi 7 technology.
Shrivastava further explained, “The regulation intelligently balances growth with safety. By capping Low Power Indoor (LPI) at 30 dBm and Very Low Power ( VLP ) at 14 dBm, the DoT ensures high-speed connectivity while protecting critical satellite and backhaul services from interference." This balance is crucial for the sustainable expansion of Wi-Fi services in the 6 GHz spectrum.
Boost for Wireless Ecosystem and Local Manufacturing
GX Group CEO Paritosh Prajapati described the government’s move as a pivotal moment for India’s wireless ecosystem. He said the de-licensing of the lower 6 GHz spectrum enables license-exempt deployment of Wi-Fi 7 technologies while maintaining strong power and safety controls, creating new opportunities for innovation.
Security Framework Strengthens Global Trust
Prajapati added, “Combined with ITSAR compliance and security principles that increasingly align with EU and US frameworks, this policy establishes a robust foundation for secure, high-performance connectivity and reinforces India’s role as a trusted hub for next-generation networking solutions at a global scale." These measures further strengthen confidence in India’s Wi-Fi services and telecom ecosystem.
ITSAR’s Role in Strengthening Telecom Security
The Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements framework, developed by the National Centre for Communication Security under the Department of Telecommunications, is also seen as a positive step by domestic players. Industry stakeholders believe ITSAR will encourage higher value addition in local manufacturing of telecom equipment while helping curb spurious imports, supporting the long-term growth of secure Wi-Fi services and 6 GHz spectrum usage in India.
Draft Notification Turns Into Policy Action
The notification comes nearly six months after the government first indicated its intent through a draft Gazette Notification issued on May 16, 2025. At the time, the proposal to de-license part of the 6 GHz spectrum had drawn wide attention from technology companies and telecom stakeholders who see Wi-Fi services as a critical pillar of India’s digital growth.
Clear Guidelines for License-Free Wi-Fi Operations
As per the Department of Telecom notification, “No licence or frequency assignment shall be required by any person to establish, maintain, work, possess or deal in any wireless equipment for the purpose of low power indoor and very low power outdoor wireless access systems, including radio local area networks operating in the frequency band 5925-6425 MHz on a non-interference, non-protection and shared (non-exclusive) basis.” This clarification ensures smoother deployment of Wi-Fi services within the de-licensed portion of the 6 GHz spectrum.
Upper 6 GHz Band Reserved for Advanced Mobile Services
While the lower 6 GHz spectrum has been opened up for Wi-Fi, the newly identified 6425-6725 MHz and 6725-7125 MHz frequencies fall under the upper 6 GHz band. These frequencies form part of the broader 6425-7125 MHz range, which has been earmarked for future mobile and advanced wireless services rather than immediate Wi-Fi deployment.
NFAP Defines Spectrum Use Across Technologies
The Department of Telecom, through the National Frequency Allocation Plan, has clearly identified the upper frequencies of the 6 GHz spectrum band for advanced mobile services. NFAP plays a critical role in defining how spectrum is allocated across different technologies, ensuring that Wi-Fi services, mobile networks, and future innovations can coexist without interference. Diverging Industry Views on 6 GHz Spectrum Use
Global technology majors such as Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Meta, HP, and Intel Corporation have jointly called for the de-licensing of the entire 1200 megahertz spectrum available in the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi services. On the other hand, Reliance Jio has argued that the full 1200 MHz spectrum should be included in upcoming spectrum auctions, despite the government’s decision to de-license 500 MHz of the lower 6 GHz spectrum for low-power Wi-Fi applications.
Strict Power Limits to Protect Network Integrity
The Department of Telecom notification has imposed strict emission power limits, making the spectrum suitable for Wi-Fi device operations while preventing its use for high-power mobile antennas. According to the notification, “Power spectral density shall be suppressed by 20 dB at 1 MHz outside of channel edge, by 28 dB at one channel bandwidth from the channel centre, and by 40 dB at one and one-half times the channel bandwidth away from channel centre," ensuring safe and interference-free Wi-Fi services. Wi-Fi to Complement 5G and Prepare for 6G
Bharat Bhatia, President, ITU-APT Foundation of India, highlighted that Wi-Fi services in the lower 6 GHz spectrum will complement the ongoing rollout of 5G networks and support future 6G readiness. He noted that this move will improve indoor broadband experiences and deliver higher Wi-Fi speeds at homes and offices, strengthening India’s overall digital infrastructure.Need for Higher Power in Large Venues
Bhatia also pointed out the limitations of current outdoor power levels, saying, “While the lower power levels currently proposed to be authorized for outdoor usage up to 0.1 milliwatt will greatly support industrial automation and AI, the government needs to consider standard power up to 4 watts to address the needs of high-speed data and video in larger venues such as stadiums, concert halls, or airport terminals." This highlights the evolving demands on Wi-Fi services using the 6 GHz spectrum. Wi-Fi 7 Seen as a Game Changer for India
Anupam Shrivastava , Independent Director at Lava International and former BSNL chairman and managing director, said the notification effectively resolves indoor connectivity bottlenecks. According to him, the de-licensing of the 6 GHz spectrum will allow the multi-gigabit capacity of India’s fiber infrastructure to reach end users through Wi-Fi 7 technology. Balanced Regulation with Safety Focus
Shrivastava further explained, “The regulation intelligently balances growth with safety. By capping Low Power Indoor (LPI) at 30 dBm and Very Low Power ( VLP ) at 14 dBm, the DoT ensures high-speed connectivity while protecting critical satellite and backhaul services from interference." This balance is crucial for the sustainable expansion of Wi-Fi services in the 6 GHz spectrum.
Boost for Wireless Ecosystem and Local Manufacturing
GX Group CEO Paritosh Prajapati described the government’s move as a pivotal moment for India’s wireless ecosystem. He said the de-licensing of the lower 6 GHz spectrum enables license-exempt deployment of Wi-Fi 7 technologies while maintaining strong power and safety controls, creating new opportunities for innovation. Security Framework Strengthens Global Trust
Prajapati added, “Combined with ITSAR compliance and security principles that increasingly align with EU and US frameworks, this policy establishes a robust foundation for secure, high-performance connectivity and reinforces India’s role as a trusted hub for next-generation networking solutions at a global scale." These measures further strengthen confidence in India’s Wi-Fi services and telecom ecosystem.ITSAR’s Role in Strengthening Telecom Security
The Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements framework, developed by the National Centre for Communication Security under the Department of Telecommunications, is also seen as a positive step by domestic players. Industry stakeholders believe ITSAR will encourage higher value addition in local manufacturing of telecom equipment while helping curb spurious imports, supporting the long-term growth of secure Wi-Fi services and 6 GHz spectrum usage in India. Next Story