India advances Wi-Fi innovation with 6 GHz lower band delicensing

On June 19, 2025, the ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) hosted an event in New Delhi, convening senior government and industry leaders to discuss the future of Wi-Fi in India, focusing on the delicensed 6 GHz spectrum band. The session addressed the economic impact of next-generation Wi-Fi technologies, spectrum management strategies, and their role in supporting innovations like AI-enabled wearables, smart cities, and immersive connectivity.
Shri Anand Khare, Member (Services) of the Digital Communications Commission, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), served as the Chief Guest. He emphasized the importance of Wi-Fi in India’s digital transformation, noting the 6 GHz band’s potential to enhance sectors such as healthcare, education, and rural empowerment. IAFI President Shri Bharat B. Bhatia opened the event, highlighting the need for progressive spectrum policies and IAFI’s contributions to global wireless standards, including 6G.
On May 19, 2025, the DoT issued draft rules to delicense the lower portion (5925–6425 MHz) of the 6 GHz band, enabling license-free operation of low-power indoor and very low-power outdoor wireless devices. This move is expected to boost Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 networks, facilitating high-speed connectivity with minimal latency and precise signal positioning. The decision aligns with a 2023 Telecom Regulatory Auth...