The Indian government has officially opened the lower part of the 6 GHz spectrum band for license-free Wi-Fi use. The Department of Telecommunications has notified the “Low Power and Very Low Power Wireless Access System Rules, 2026”, which allows the 5925 MHz to 6425 MHz band to be used for indoor Wi-Fi services.
The decision follows a meeting chaired by Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, where the government cleared the use of the lower 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi in India. With this move, India has taken an important step toward faster and more reliable wireless internet inside homes and offices.
For most users, Wi-Fi today runs on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. These bands are crowded, especially in cities, apartments, and office buildings. Multiple routers, smart devices, and nearby networks compete for the same limited space. This leads to slower speeds, unstable connections, and higher latency.
The 6 GHz band solves many of these problems. It offers more spectrum, wider channels, and much less interference. By delicensing the lower 6 GHz band, the government has made it possible to use modern Wi-Fi standards like Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 in India. These technologies are designed for high speed internet, low latency, and handling many connected devices at the same time.
For users, the benefits are practical and noticeable. Faster downloads, smoother video calls, better online gaming, and stable streaming are some of the key improvements. Homes with many connected devices, such as smart TVs, cameras, speakers, and laptops will see better performance. Offices and work from home setups will also benefit from more reliable connections.
The rules come with clear limits. The spectrum can be used only by low-power and very low-power wireless devices. Indoor use is the main focus. Outdoor use is allowed only at very low power levels and under strict conditions. The spectrum is shared and non-exclusive, and Wi-Fi devices must not cause interference to existing licensed services.
Only the lower portion of the 6 GHz band has been opened. The upper part, from 6425 MHz to 7125 MHz, remains reserved for licensed uses such as future mobile networks. This was a carefully balanced decision. Telecom operators wanted more spectrum for 5G and future 6G services, while technology companies and device makers pushed for license-free Wi-Fi to reduce congestion and improve broadband experience.
The government had been consulting industry bodies and stakeholders for months. India was also watching global trends closely. Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and several European nations have already opened parts of the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi. Without this step, India risked falling behind in wireless performance and device innovation.
Users should also understand that benefits will roll out gradually. To use the 6 GHz band, people will need Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 routers and compatible devices. Some existing phones and laptops may support it through updates, but many users will see the full benefits when they upgrade their hardware over time.
