The Indian government is paving the way for a significant upgrade in wireless technology, which promises to boost the performance of next-generation gadgets and deliver faster WiFi speeds across the country. This initiative centers on opening up new spectrum bands, particularly the 6 GHz band, for license-free use. The move is expected to benefit consumers, technology companies, and internet service providers alike.
One of the key decisions is the delicensing of the lower chunk of the 6 GHz band (5925-6425 MHz) for unlicensed indoor use. This step is poised to revolutionize the Wi-Fi broadband space by enabling data-intensive applications to perform more efficiently. The 6 GHz band offers a vast and clean spectrum, free from the congestion that often plagues the traditional 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands. This availability is critical to meeting the surging demand for bandwidth from applications such as 4K streaming, augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR), online gaming, Internet of Things (IoT) services, and high-resolution video conferencing.
The delicensing of the 6 GHz band is expected to accelerate the adoption of Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 technologies. Wi-Fi 6E, operating in this newly delicensed band, promises speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps, ultra-low latency, and greater capacity, delivering a significant leap in user experience and digital productivity. The move is particularly beneficial for India, where the amount of unlicensed spectrum available is significantly lower compared to countries like the USA, China, Japan, and the UK, despite the importance of Wi-Fi for the Digital India initiative.
This decision is also expected to provide a fillip to the development and adoption of next-generation gadgets. Companies like Sony, Meta, Apple, and Google are likely to benefit as the 6 GHz band is crucial for supporting devices like the Sony PlayStation and AR/VR devices. With the availability of this spectrum, the performance of these devices is expected to improve significantly, offering users a more seamless and immersive experience.
The opening up of new spectrum is not limited to Wi-Fi. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also recommended the auction of 5G spectrum in the 37-40 GHz band across all 22 circles. This band, which is in the millimeter wave (mmWave) range, is crucial for capacity additions by telecom operators and is ideal for providing high-speed connectivity in densely populated areas. While TRAI has recommended against auctions for the 42.5-43.5 GHz frequency range due to the non-availability of the device ecosystem, the move to auction the 37-40 GHz band is expected to be a welcome step for telecom service providers looking to expand their 5G services.
However, challenges remain. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has pointed out that India needs to free up at least an additional 1200 MHz of spectrum to meet global benchmarks. Currently, only 720 MHz is available in the mid-band in India, while the IMT-2020 standard requires a total of 2 GHz of mid-band spectrum to support consistent speeds of 100 Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink in densely populated cities.
Despite these challenges, the government's recent moves to open up new spectrum bands are a positive step towards improving wireless connectivity and promoting the adoption of next-generation technologies in India. By delicensing the lower 6 GHz band and auctioning 5G spectrum in the 37-40 GHz band, the government is laying the foundation for faster Wi-Fi speeds, improved performance of next-generation gadgets, and the continued growth of the digital economy.
