The battle over the 6 GHz spectrum band in India has intensified. On one side are the telecom giants Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (VI), pushing for this band to be used for mobile/5G/6G services. On the other side are major US‐tech players — Apple Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., Meta Platforms, Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HP) and Intel Corporation — who are urging that the 6 GHz band be reserved for Wi-Fi/unlicensed use instead.
What’s at Stake: Key Details
Band & allocation proposals
- The 6 GHz band under discussion includes both a lower part (around 5925-6425 MHz) and an upper part (6425-6725 & 6725-7125 MHz).
- The Indian government/Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed:
- ~400 MHz of the band ready now for auction for mobile use.
- Additional ~300 MHz by 2030.
- ~500 MHz to be delicensed (i.e., made available for unlicensed use such as Wi-Fi) in the lower portion (5925-6425 MHz).
- The telcos (Jio, VI) want the entire ~1,200 MHz of the band included in the upcoming auction for mobile use.
Positions of the parties
Tech firms’ view:
- They say the technical & commercial readiness of the 6 GHz band for mobile use is not yet established.
- They advocate that the entire band (or at least large parts) should be used for Wi-Fi/unlicensed use in the interim.
- They request that any auction deadlines for the upper parts (6425-6725 MHz & 7025-7125 MHz) not be set until after global/regional standardisation (e.g., the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27)).
Telcos’ / telecom lobby view (via Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI)):
- They argue that if the 6 GHz band is partly given away for unlicensed use now, it will irreversibly foreclose its use for mobile broadband, harming long‐term digital capacity.
- They warn that unlicensed Wi-Fi deployments (by device/OTT firms) could reduce government revenues and give an unfair advantage to foreign OTT/device firms. The Economic Times
- They emphasise that licensed IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications) spectrum ensures better quality, scalability, “Digital Bharat” ambitions etc.
Bharti Airtel’s stance:
- Slightly different: rather than demanding immediate full access, Airtel has asked for deferment of the auction of upper 6 GHz parts, citing ecosystem readiness issues (devices, network gear, global harmonisation)
Why This Matters: Broader Implications
For India’s telecom future
- The 6 GHz band offers high-capacity spectrum which could be vital for future 5G enhancement and 6G networks (especially dense urban coverage). If locked into Wi-Fi/unlicensed only, mobile operators might argue this limits future mobile broadband growth.
- Conversely, heavy mobile use of 6 GHz may reduce availability of wide‐band unlicensed spectrum which is important for indoor coverage, Wi-Fi off-load, fixed wireless access and device innovation.
For tech ecosystem & devices
- For companies like Apple, Amazon, Meta, HP and Cisco, more unlicensed spectrum means more opportunity for Wi-Fi growth, devices (smartphones, AR/VR headsets), IoT, indoor connectivity—all of which favour unlicensed deployments.
- They argue that globally many countries have already delicensed 6 GHz for Wi-Fi (e.g., US, Canada etc.), so India moving mobile first might lag global device/standard alignment.
For government/regulators and revenues
- Auctioning 6 GHz for mobile use could bring significant revenue to the exchequer.
- But if large portions are delicensed/unlicensed, auctions yield less revenue and perceived “value” shifts.
- The decision will set a precedent for how India treats spectrum scarcity, licensed vs unlicensed trade‐offs.
For end-users & services
- How the band is used affects consumer experience: good mobile coverage, faster speeds, but also indoor Wi-Fi quality, fixed wireless broadband alternatives, device ecosystem.
- Timing matters: if mobile networks aren’t ready for 6 GHz and devices don’t support it, then rushing auction may lead to underutilised spectrum.
Key Issues & Challenges
- Ecosystem readiness: Telcos and some chip/gear firms say deploying mobile services in the upper 6 GHz band requires devices, infrastructure, global harmonisation. If not ready, network roll‐out may be delayed.
- Global alignment: Tech companies point out global moves and standardisation (WRC-27) will affect how 6 GHz is used for 6G. If India moves ahead prematurely, it could misalign with future specs.
- Revenue vs innovation trade-off: Licence auctions bring revenue, but unlicensed spectrum fosters innovation and potentially cheaper connectivity (e.g., Wi-Fi, local access). The government must balance.
- Irreversibility risk: According to telecom lobby, once spectrum is given for unlicensed use, switching back to licensed mobile use may be difficult/expensive.
- Fair competition: Operators claim unlicensed use may favour foreign OTT/device makers and diminish telco role/investment, while tech firms say mobile operators already dominate and need to be checked.
- Timing and sequencing: Whether India should auction now vs wait for global standards (WRC-27) or device readiness is contested.
Outlook: What Might Happen Next?
- The regulator TRAI and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will consider submissions by both sides (operators and tech firms) and then decide on auction timings, band splits and licensing regimes.
- India may adopt a hybrid model: some portion of 6 GHz reserved for unlicensed Wi-Fi now (as being proposed) and the rest set aside for mobile later.
- The upper 6 GHz parts (6425-6725 & 6725-7125 MHz) may see deferred auction or usage until global standardisation is clearer.
- Device manufacturers and chipset firms may accelerate developing 6 GHz compatible gear, which may influence timing.
- The decision will shape India’s mobile-broadband future (5G-+, 6G) as well as non‐mobile connectivity (Wi-Fi, IoT, fixed wireless).
- Telcos may push harder for future rights or alternate bands if 6 GHz doesn’t go their way now.
Conclusion
The dispute over the 6 GHz spectrum band in India is more than just about frequencies. It represents a crossroads between mobile operator ambitions, device/tech-firm interests, regulatory policy, innovation imperatives and the larger connectivity roadmap for the country. With major global tech firms such as Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Meta and HP taking a stand for unlicensed use, and Indian telcos pressing for licensed mobile usage, the final decision will have long‐term ramifications for how India builds its telecom and digital infrastructure.
