Faster Indoor WiFi And Enhanced Virtual Reality Experience As Government Frees Up 6 GHz Band For License-Free Use

Indians are set to enjoy faster WiFi speeds and virtual reality (VR) gadgets that require faster connectivity among devices soon as the government has decided to delicense a 500 MHz portion of the 6 GHz spectrum band (5925-6425 MHz) for unlicensed indoor use.

This significant move announced on 19 May, aims to speed up the deployment of advanced Wi-Fi technologies such as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, ensuring faster speeds and improved wireless experiences for consumers and businesses.

As long as the wireless equipment is used indoors and complies with low power output regulations (capped at 30 dBm), this ruling allows people and organisations to operate wireless equipment within this frequency range without requiring government authorisation or spectrum assignment.

The use of this spectrum is on a non-interference, non-protection, and shared basis. Operational restrictions include a ban on usage in vehicles, aircraft (below 10,000 feet), boats, oil platforms, and for controlling drones.

Telecom companies had previously requested this spectrum for 5G and 6G services, underscoring the band's significance for upcoming mobile communications as well.

Since more than 100 countries have already allowed unlicensed use of portions of the 6 GHz band, industry organisations like the Broadband India Forum (BIF) and the ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) have praised this action as a critical step towards digital transformation and alignment with international standards.

While acknowledging the 500 MHz delicensing as a positive start, the BIF has stimulated the government to consider freeing up an additional 160 MHz to fully realise the potential of Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, enabling even wider channels and better performance for data-intensive applications.

This initiative is anticipated to boost digital inclusion, support government programs for expanding broadband access, and drive economic growth by fostering innovation and improving connectivity across various sectors.