The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has urged for a ban on the “illegal sale” of Wi-Fi 6E wireless routers operating on the 6 GHz frequency band by certain e-commerce platforms and online retailers.
In a letter addressed to Neeraj Mittal, Chairperson of the Digital Communications Commission & Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications, S P Kochhar, the Director General of COAI, called for the Department to intervene and enforce strict measures to halt the sale of Wi-Fi products operating in the 6 GHz band. These products are being offered to consumers by 16 different sellers, which goes against the norms established by the Government of India.
“The websites/online platforms are engaged in selling wireless equipment for 6 GHz band utilization, which has not yet been assigned for this purpose or has not been declared as license-exempt by the Government. We would like to submit that DoT is yet to take a policy decision related to the 6 GHz band utilization. Therefore, any sale of such Wi-Fi 6E products, which utilizes the 6 GHz spectrum band in a delicensed manner, is illegal and such sale would only result in unauthorized transmissions in our country,” stated the letter.
Kochhar emphasized that the use of such Wi-Fi devices operating in the 6 GHz band places the burden of responsibility on consumers, as they become accountable for these unauthorized transmissions. This shifts the onus of responsibility from the actual offenders to the consumers.
“We earnestly request the Department to kindly intervene in the matter and take strict measures to put a complete ban on the sale of Wi-Fi products operating in the 6 GHz band, whether offline or online through e-commerce websites/platforms, through an appropriate notification to sellers of such products in the country,” he added.
COAI pointed out that the e-commerce platforms involved include TP-Link, Amazon, Flipkart, Gadgets Now, Moglix, Shop The World, and Industry Buying. The popular brands being sold are TP-Link Deco, ALFA, Netgear, and Google Nest.
