India’s technology sector is urging the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to revise the proposed power levels for Wi-Fi and other wireless devices operating in the 6 GHz spectrum band, aligning them with global standards to ensure optimal device performance and affordability.
The DoT has released draft rules for the use of low-power and very-low-power wireless systems in the lower 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz), which has been delicensed—meaning it can be used without spectrum auctions. These rules will pave the way for next-generation Wi-Fi routers, gaming consoles, and immersive tech devices to function seamlessly in India.
Industry Concerns on Power Restrictions
Industry experts warn that the current power limits proposed in the draft—a maximum Power Spectral Density (PSD) of -5 dBm/MHz and a total transmit power of 14 dBm—could restrict both range and throughput, especially for very-low-power (VLP) indoor and outdoor devices.
The technology industry is advocating for the PSD to be revised to 1 dBm/MHz, a globally accepted standard, to support advanced use cases such as
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Virtual Reality (VR)
- Mixed Reality (MR)
These applications require high data throughput and low latency, which may not be achievable under the current proposed limits.
Broadband India Forum (BIF) Pushes for Reforms
The Broadband India Forum (BIF), which represents leading global tech companies like Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, has called for a review of the proposed power levels and a broader policy alignment with international benchmarks.
“Permitting globally harmonised power levels is critical to enabling affordable devices and equitable deployment across both indoor and outdoor environments,” said TV Ramachandran, President of BIF.
BIF also reiterated its long-standing demand to delicense an additional 160 MHz in the 6 GHz band, raising the total available bandwidth to at least 660 MHz. Currently, only 500 MHz (5925–6425 MHz) has been delicensed. “The full economic and technological benefits of the 6 GHz band can only be realised with additional spectrum delicensing,” Ramachandran added.
Global Benchmarks and Indian Potential
The 6 GHz spectrum band is capable of delivering data speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps, significantly outperforming the 1.3 Gbps on the 5 GHz band and 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band—both of which are currently used for Wi-Fi services in India and are heavily congested.
Globally, over 84 countries including the US, UK, and South Korea have already delicensed the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi services, driving innovation in high-speed, low-latency wireless applications.
Looking Ahead
Once the DoT completes its stakeholder consultation process, final rules will be issued, potentially enabling the deployment of next-gen Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 devices in India. Industry leaders are hopeful that the government will take these recommendations into account to unlock the full potential of the 6 GHz band and support the country’s digital growth agenda.
