BIF Urge Indian Govt to Delicense 6 GHz Wi-Fi Band

 

The Broadband India Forum (BIF), backed by leading global technology firms including Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, has strongly advocated for the delicensing of the 6 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum (5925–7125 MHz) in India. In a letter dated April 11 addressed to Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, BIF warned that continued policy delays in opening up the band are stalling the nation’s digital progress and costing the Indian economy an estimated Rs 12.7 lakh crore annually.

The BIF highlighted that the 6 GHz Wi-Fi band plays a crucial role in supporting next-generation digital technologies such as augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), smart glasses, and Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 compatible devices. These innovations depend on high-speed, low-latency connectivity—something that can be effectively delivered through the 6 GHz spectrum when it is made available for unlicensed use.

While more than 60 countries have already opened parts or the full 6 GHz spectrum band for license-exempt operations, India has yet to move forward decisively. As a result, the country risks falling behind in the global Wi-Fi 6E rollout, which promises significant improvements in wireless network performance, capacity, and user experience.

BIF emphasized that delicensing this band will not only help in expanding high-speed Wi-Fi access in public and private spaces, but also support India's Digital India mission and Make in India initiative by encouraging local innovation and hardware manufacturing. The industry body urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to consider the long-term economic and technological benefits of liberalizing the band and aligning India’s Wi-Fi spectrum policy with global standards.

Opening up the 6 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum in India will pave the way for faster, more reliable connectivity across urban and rural areas—boosting productivity, supporting smart infrastructure, and accelerating the country's transition to a digitally empowered society.

BIF has asked for an urgent meeting with the minister, urging India to open at least 660 MHz of the 6 GHz band, similar to what Australia has done. This would allow two 320 MHz channels to run at the same time — something needed for high-speed internet applications. It called this step a “non-negotiable national priority” and stressed that India must act quickly to match global standards and boost its digital infrastructure and growth.