In a move to pave the way for capacity expansion in 5G, 5G-Advanced and future 6G networks, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has identified the 6425–7125 MHz band, commonly referred to as the upper 6 GHz band for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT).
The National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 (NFAP-2025), released by DoT on Tuesday defines the road map for future spectrum usage by all national authorities ranging from the telecom and space departments to information and broadcasting and defence ministries.
What is NFAP 2025?
The NFAP 2025, effective from December 30, seeks to cover the allocation of radio-frequency spectrum to various radio-communication services from 8.3 kHz to 3000 GHz. “It serves as an essential reference for spectrum managers, wireless operators, and telecom equipment manufacturers,” DoT said in the release.
The move reflects bids by major carriers including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) to secure large contiguous blocks of 6 GHz spectrum for licensed mobile broadband, arguing that the full 1,200 MHz range (5925-7125 MHz) should be made available for IMT to support high-capacity services and avoid future “spectrum crunches.”
Tech players cite concerns
However, tech majors like Amazon, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, Meta, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Intel had recently written to The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) saying the mobile ecosystem for 6GHz is not yet ready. They had asked TRAI to reconsider allocating the upper 6 GHz band to mobile services and instead preserve it, or portions of it for unlicensed Wi-Fi use and other low-power applications, citing concerns over technical readiness for cellular deployment in the band.
The 6GHz band have so far been considered crucial for both Wi-Fi 7 and future 6G mobile technology.
In May 2025, DoT had issued draft rules proposing to delicense 500 MHz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz) for low-power indoor Wi-Fi use for enabling the rollout of Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 devices.
At present, Wi-Fi services operate on around 700 MHz of unlicensed spectrum across the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Access to the additional 6 GHz airwaves would enhance data speeds, network capacity, and performance, mostly in high-density usage environments.
The NFAP-2025 also earmarks Ka, Q and V bands for next-generation satellite services, including Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) and Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) constellations. The idea is to accelerate satellite-led broadband rollouts, especially in remote and underserved regions.
The plan also provides additional spectrum for In-Flight and Maritime Connectivity (IFMC), enabling seamless broadband services for passengers and operators in the air and at sea. This includes the bands in the range of 12.2-12.5GHz, 17.7-18.7GHz, and 27.5-28.5GHz.
It also finds mention for emerging technologies such as Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communications and a wider range of advanced broadband connectivity solutions.
“NFAP-25 strikes a perfect balance of the current spectrum demands with future technological advancements, facilitating optimal spectrum utilisation, enabling seamless technology adoption, fostering innovation, and streamlining regulatory processes to promote ease of doing business within the telecommunications industry,” Union communications minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia said.