DoT Allows Licence-Free Use of Lower 6GHz Spectrum for Wi-Fi Routers Sets Power Limits

In a move that is expected to increase indoor Wi-Fi speeds significantly and support next generation wireless technologies like Wi–Fi 6E and the W’F 7 (Wi- Fi 8E) has been officially opened up by the government for licence-exempt use. The move – which was announced by the Department of Telecommunications on January 20 – allows low-power indoor and very low power outdoor wireless systems to operate without a licence in the 5925–6425MHz band. The move comes after months of debate between telecom operators and technology companies over the future of 6GHz spectrum use.

Government De-Licences 500MHz of Spectrum for Wi-Fi Networks

In the lower half of the 6GHz band, the Department of Telecommunications has issued a notice to the “Low Power and Very Low Power Wireless Access System Rules, 2026” which de-license 500MHz of spectrum. The rules allow users to deploy Wi-Fi and radio local area network equipment without a licence, provided that the devices operate on’shared, non-exclusive basis of common technology with strict technical limits on power, emissions and bandwidth’.

Similarly, low-power indoor devices are limited to up to 30dBm of isotropic radiated power (a maximum equivalent for the same) and very low energy outdoor devices only 14dbm. Government officials have stated that these limits are intended to allow high speed Wi-Fi access while preventing interference with licensed services like satellite communications and backhaul networks. Prosecutors must also be used in devices, as well as using contention-based protocols and integrated antennas approved under prescribed standards.

A number of operational restrictions are placed on the band’s use in the notification, including . The use of indoors is prohibited on land vehicles, boats and aircraft except when flying above 10,000 feet. The band is not allowed to be used on oil platforms, and communication with or control of drones and unmanned aerial systems is prohibited. Rules also specify strict out-of-band emission limits to reduce interference.

It comes about six months after the government issued a draft proposal in May 2025 to allow use of the lower 6GHz band. This is a long-running lobbying of technology companies that claimed the existing Wi-Fi networks cannot fully extend fibre broadband and 5G connections indoors capacity.

Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Meta, HP and Intel have all called for de-licensing the entire 6GHz band for Wi-Fi. Similarly, Reliance Jio has claimed the full 6GHz spectrum should be auctioned for mobile services.

The decision is ‘to complement the rollout of 5G networks, improve indoor broadband experience and enable multi-gigabit Wi-Fi speeds in homes and offices,” industry experts said. A 6425–7125MHz band of upper 6GHz is still reserved for the most advanced mobile services under the National Frequency Allocation Plan, leaving room for future policy decisions on how it will be used.