The Union government has formally opened a key portion of the 6 GHz spectrum for licence-exempt use, a move expected to significantly boost next-generation Wi-Fi and local area network deployments across homes, offices and enterprise campuses.
In a notification issued on January 20, 2026, the Ministry of Communications announced the Use of Low Power and Very Low Power Wireless Access System including Radio Local Area Network in Lower 6 GHz Band (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2026. The rules came into effect upon publication in the Official Gazette.
Under the new framework, the 5925–6425 MHz frequency band has been made available for licence-free operation of low-power indoor and very low-power outdoor wireless access systems, including Wi-Fi networks. Devices operating in this band will not require spectrum allocation or telecom licences, provided they meet prescribed technical conditions.
The decision is expected to benefit households, startups and small businesses by enabling faster speeds, lower latency and improved performance for data-intensive applications such as streaming, online gaming, video conferencing and connected devices.
The rules specify operating parameters such as limits on equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP), power spectral density, emission bandwidth and out-of-band emissions. Operations are permitted on a shared, non-exclusive, non-interference and non-protection basis.
Indoor use is defined as deployment within enclosed premises with walls and roofs that are largely non-transparent to radio waves, marking a clear regulatory framework to support India’s expanding digital and wireless ecosystem.
