Centre Likely to Delicence Lower Chunk of 6 GHz for Unlicensed Indoor Use

New Delhi: The Centre is likely to delicense the lower chunk of 6 GHz (5925 – 6425 MHz spectrum band) for unlicensed indoor use, a move that may benefit the Wi-Fi broadband space by opening up data-intensive applications. However, experts are of the view that with this move, users can get high-speed Wi-Fi as its range will be increased significantly, and it will help service providers in both artificial intelligence and robotic technology as well.

The move of the government comes after several countries, including the United States and members of the European Union, have already delicensed the lower 6 GHz band for unlicensed Wi-Fi use. In India, however, the spectrum has been the subject of intense debate between telecom operators and technology firms.

The government has notified the draft rules in this regard and these rules shall be applicable in the 5925 – 6425 MHz band. According to the draft, the notification said that 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, including radio local area networks operating in the frequency band 5925-6425 MHz on noninterference, non-protection and shared (nonexclusive) basis.

As per experts, this spectrum will enable high-speed, low-latency Internet access, particularly for indoor environments, by reducing congestion and improving overall network performance. “This development is essential for delivering uninterrupted, high-quality connectivity in a dense digital ecosystem. They believe that this move will impact several high-growth sectors, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, digital healthcare, gaming, and immersive technologies like AR and VR games,” they said.

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,” the draft 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 also said that 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.