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Source — Source: TH ///Category — GS Paper 3 ///Published — 2026-01-24 ///Exam — Both Prelims and Mains ///Tags — Rapid Fire, Quick Facts For Prelims, GS Paper - 3 ///Source — Source: TH ///Category — GS Paper 3 ///Published — 2026-01-24 ///Exam — Both Prelims and Mains ///Tags — Rapid Fire, Quick Facts For Prelims, GS Paper - 3 ///

Source: TH · GS Paper 3

DoT De-licenses Half of 6 GHz Band

The Department of Telecommunications has de‑licensed the 5,925‑6,425 MHz portion of the 6 GHz band for indoor use, enabling Wi‑Fi 6E and Wi‑Fi 7 services in India. This move eases spectrum congestion, boosts high‑bandwidth applications and aligns India’s spectrum policy with global best practices, making it a key topic for both prelims facts and mains analysis.

2026-01-24

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Source: TH

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Key Facts and Data Points

Frequency band de‑licensed: 5,925 MHz – 6,425 MHz (lower half of the 6 GHz band).
Purpose: Indoor unlicensed use for Wi‑Fi 6E and Wi‑Fi 7.
Theoretical peak speed: Up to 9.6 Gbps.
Key technology enabled: Multi‑Link Operation (MLO) in Wi‑Fi 7 – simultaneous transmission over 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz.
Critical use‑cases: VR/AR, high‑fidelity cloud gaming, ultra‑high‑definition streaming.
Operational restrictions: Indoor only; prohibited on moving vehicles, trains, oil rigs.
Global context:
Europe: Split 6 GHz band – unlicensed for Wi‑Fi, licensed for mobile.
USA: Fully unlicensed (entire 6 GHz band).
China: Reserved mainly for mobile services.
Market impact: Removal of regulatory uncertainty; launch of advanced hardware (e.g., PlayStation 5 Pro) in India.

Background and Context

Spectrum basics: Radio frequencies from 20 kHz to 300 GHz enable wireless communication. Traditional Wi‑Fi operates on 2.4 GHz (wide coverage, lower speed) and 5 GHz (higher speed, shorter range).
Wi‑Fi 6E: Extends Wi‑Fi 6 to the 6 GHz band, offering more channels and reduced interference.
Wi‑Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be): Introduces MLO, higher order modulation (4096‑QAM) and up to 30 Gbps theoretical throughput.

Significance for India / Governance / Policy

Spectrum efficiency: De‑licensing adds an "extra strand" of spectrum, alleviating congestion on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
Digital India agenda: Supports high‑speed broadband, smart city initiatives, and the growth of immersive technologies.
Policy alignment: Mirrors Europe’s balanced approach, fostering innovation while preserving spectrum for future mobile (5G/6G) deployments.
Economic impact: Boosts domestic manufacturing of Wi‑Fi equipment, creates jobs, and enhances consumer experience.

Related Constitutional / Legal Provisions

Telecommunications Act, 1997 (as amended): Empowers the DoT to allocate and manage spectrum.
National Telecom Policy 2019: Emphasises efficient spectrum utilization and promotion of emerging technologies.
Electronic Communications (Amendment) Act, 2022: Provides framework for unlicensed spectrum usage.

References

Department of Telecommunications press release, Jan 2026.
"6G Technology" – Drishti IAS analysis.