With the government reportedly leaning towards allocating the upper portion of the critical 6 GHz spectrum band (6425-7125 MHz) exclusively for telecom operators, technology firms represented by the Broadband India Forum (BIF) have raised concerns about a potentially skewed approach. The lack of a decision on delicensing at least the lower part of the band for Wi-Fi adds to their apprehensions.
The department of telecommunications (DoT) has yet to formally announce its decision, but sources indicate that a committee of secretaries has decided to reserve the upper segment of the band for international mobile telecommunications (IMT) services like 5G and 6G.
The BIF, representing companies like Meta, Amazon, and Google, has long advocated for delicensing portions of the 6 GHz band to support Wi-Fi innovation.
“BIF has made numerous evidence-backed submissions to the government over the past two years, showing that allocating any part of the 6 GHz band to telecom operators contradicts the interests of the public and the national goal of fostering a trusted digital economy,” said TV Ramachandran, president of the BIF.
Ramachandran pointed out that over 80% of data consumption occurs indoors, and the decision to allocate the band to IMT services could lead to poorer connectivity for consumers.“Despite our extensive efforts, our points remain unacknowledged, and we are met with silence from policymakers,” he said.
Globally, more than 84 countries, including the US, have delicensed at least 500 MHz of the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi and innovation. Australia recently extended its delicensed spectrum to include an additional 160 MHz after consultations.
In contrast, Indian telcos, represented by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), oppose any allocation of the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi. COAI argues that the 6 GHz spectrum is essential for providing seamless 5G services and addressing a significant spectrum shortfall.
“In the 6 GHz band, only 1,200 MHz is available. Allocating this for Wi-Fi will increase infrastructure costs as we’ll need more towers at shorter distances to maintain service quality,” said SP Kochhar, director general of COAI.
The 6 GHz band is particularly crucial for enabling faster data speeds and supporting emerging technologies like Wi-Fi 7. However, its allocation has broader implications. Companies such as Meta, Apple, and Sony have faced delays in launching next-generation devices in India due to the lack of available Wi-Fi spectrum in this band.
Broadband India Forum counters telcos’ claims, highlighting the limitations of 5G signals in penetrating buildings. “Even with the 3.5 GHz band, indoor connectivity is sub-par. Allocating 6 GHz to IMT services would exacerbate the issue due to poorer penetration at higher frequencies,” Ramachandran said.
The 6 GHz band is also used by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) for satellite operations, which raises concerns about potential interference. The government has proposed shifting satellite operations to the higher Ku-band (12 GHz) over time.
Analysts warn that adopting a telecom-centric approach to spectrum allocation could inadvertently benefit Chinese telecom equipment manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE, which may dominate the ecosystem, raising potential security risks.
India opposed China’s proposal to use the 6 GHz band for IMT at the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference in Dubai. However, the current inclination towards reserving the band for telecom services appears to align with China’s strategy.
As the government deliberates, stakeholders highlight the need for balanced spectrum allocation to foster both telecom innovation and the widespread availability of affordable, high-quality Wi-Fi services.
