India Unlocks Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 With 6 GHz Spectrum
India has de-licensed 500 MHz of the 6 GHz spectrum, enabling Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 with faster speeds, lower latency, and improved wireless connectivity nationwide.
The Indian government has officially cleared the way for Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 by de-licensing 500 MHz of the lower 6 GHz spectrum band, a move expected to significantly boost wireless connectivity across the country. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in a gazette notification issued on January 20, 2026, allowed licence-free use of the 5925–6425 MHz band for low-power indoor and very low-power outdoor wireless systems, including Wi-Fi networks. The spectrum will operate on a non-interference and shared basis, with restrictions on use in vehicles and for drone control. The decision promises faster speeds, lower latency, and improved indoor connectivity, while reserving the upper 6 GHz band for future licensed mobile services such as 6G, aligning India with global standards.
6 GHz Spectrum Opens Wi-Fi Era
The move to de-licence the part of the 6 Hz spectrum by the Indian government is set to unlock the full capabilities of Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 and positively impact a wide range of next-generation devices and digital services. The ability to open up the lower part of the 6 GHz band to licence-free, low-power use will allow one to look forward to a higher data rate, lower latency, and an easing of network overload, which collectively will transform the way people can connect regularly.
On the device level, smartphones and laptops produced by prominent companies like Samsung, Xiaomi, Dell, and HP, many of which are already Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 ready will get their performance increased instantly. The new spectrum can accrue to high-bandwidth technologies (augmented reality and virtual reality devices, advanced mixed-reality headsets, smart glasses) in a significant way due to its ability to provide a low-latency environment. Gaming consoles are expected to also use Wi-Fi 7 in the future releases, and thus, enhance cloud and real-time multiplayer games. Moreover, smart-home systems, industrial IoT sensors, and smart televisions will be more reliable, and the network infrastructure of such high-speed networks will consist of compatible routers and mesh access points.
6 GHz Spectrum Boosts Digital Services
Many online services are also expected to enjoy the fruits. Cloud gaming solutions, 4K and 8K video-streaming services and video-conferencing applications will be able to operate with fewer issues, even in highly populated device settings. Outside of consumer use cases, industrial automation, medical, and educational industries are expected to gain both faster data transfer and near real-time responsiveness, and therefore, promote smart factories, telemedicine, and immersive learning.
On 20 January 2026, the lower 6⁻ GHz band was formally permitted to be used under the licence-free authorisation of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications by way of a gazette notification. Although residential users can also access the spectrum, enterprises, ISPs, manufacturers, and start-ups can use the spectrum, its use is limited in vehicles, aircrafts down to 10000 feet, drones, boats, and oil platforms, and hence protecting critical licensed services.
