Delicensing of 6 GHz Band for Wi-Fi Will Boost Innovation in India, Says Telecom Minister: Report

Delicensing of 6 GHz Band for Wi-Fi to Boost Innovation in India, Says Telecom Minister
The Central government’s decision to delicense the lower 6 GHz spectrum band (5925 MHz to 6425 MHz), paving the way for the rollout of next-generation Wi-Fi technologies such as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 will boost innovation in the country, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on May 27, according to a report by ETTelecom.

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Also Read: Centre Notifies Draft Rules to Delicense Lower 6 GHz Band for Wi-Fi Use

6 GHz Band to Supercharge Wireless Performance

Speaking at an industry conference on Tuesday, Scindia said the move would significantly enhance internet speeds, reduce latency, and improve network capacity across the country. “We have just delicensed 500 MHz in our 6 GHz spectrum, and this will roll out these new, next-generation technologies like Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, which will result in higher speeds, ultra-low-latency, and seamless capacity,” he said.

“With this technology, offices will no longer remain the hub of innovation. Our homes, each individual home, each rural hamlet, will become the hub of innovation in the days to come,” the union minister added, according to the report.

Global Context

The 6 GHz band is capable of supporting broadband speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps—considerably higher than the 1.3 Gbps offered by the 5 GHz band and the 600 Mbps supported by the 2.4 GHz band. Globally, countries such as the US, the UK, and South Korea have already opened up this spectrum for unlicensed use, facilitating faster and more reliable wireless connectivity.

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Wider Access, Rural Reach, and Innovation

Scindia highlighted that the availability of this spectrum would democratise innovation beyond urban centres. “I believe that broadband is no longer a pipeline, but is a platform for progress. Now we have to ensure that this platform for progress reaches every hand, lights every home, and reaches every corner of our country,” he was quoted as saying in the report.