U.S. Tech Majors Push Back on Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum — Advocating Wi-Fi Over Mobile 2025

 Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum New Delhi, November 24, 2025 — A high-stakes debate over spectrum policy in India has intensified, as some of America’s biggest technology companies — including Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Meta, HP, and Intel — have jointly opposed the demand by Indian telecom operators Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea (Vi) to allocate parts of the 6 GHz frequency band for mobile services. Instead, these tech giants argue, the entire band should be reserved for unlicensed Wi-Fi use, citing the lack of technical and commercial readiness for mobile (IMT) deployment in that spectrum.

1. The C Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum rux of the Dispute

At the heart of the controversy is a public consultation by India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI) ahead of its upcoming spectrum auction. Jio and Vi have proposed that portions of the upper 6 GHz band — specifically, the 6425–6725 MHz and 7025–7125 MHz ranges — be allocated for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) services.

However, the U.S. tech consortium strongly challenged this proposal. Their joint submission argues that IMT deployment in these bands is not yet technically viable, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum and that the commercial ecosystem (devices, network infrastructure) is not sufficiently mature to support mobile services in that range.

They also recommended that any upper-6 GHz spectrum which might remain unused — if not deployed for mobile — should be made available for license-exempt (unlicensed) use in the interim.

2. Why the Tech Companies Are Pushing for Wi-Fi

There are several reasons why the U.S. technology firms prefer keeping the 6 GHz band unlicensed:

• Wi-Fi Innovation: The companies argue that this spectrum is critical for the next generation of Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6E, 7, and beyond). Unlicensed access enables a wide range of devices and innovations without the regulatory overhead of mobile licensing.

• Interim Use: Rather than letting the band remain idle or partially underutilized, they propose making it available for unlicensed use now, rather than waiting for IMT readiness.

• Regulatory Timing: They suggest deferring any auction of these upper 6 GHz segments until after outcomes from WRC-27 (World Radiocommunication Conference 2027), Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum  including Agenda Item 1.7 (which concerns frequencies in the 7.125-8.4 GHz band).

• Global Use: By reserving this spectrum for Wi-Fi, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum they say India can align with global unlicensed usage trends and support a more open digital ecosystem.                                                        FORE MORE INFORMATION

3. The Telcos’ Argument: Mobile Future & 6G

On the other side, Jio and Vi, backed by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), argue that allocating this spectrum to mobile IMT services is vital for future network capacity, quality, and long-term digital strategy:

• High Demand for 5G and Beyond: As mobile data usage surges, telcos claim that India needs more licensed mid-band spectrum to support densification, capacity, and future technologies — including 6G.

• Technology Neutrality: Jio pushes for technology-neutral use of the band, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum which would allow both mobile and unlicensed use in different portions or under different conditions.

• Scalability & Quality: COAI argues that licensed IMT spectrum offers predictable quality-of-service, coverage, and scalability, which may not be assured under unlicensed regimes.Long-term Strategic Value: According to COAI, once delicensed (converted to unlicensed use), parts of the 6 GHz band could be permanently locked out from licensed mobile services — a move that could weaken India’s long-term digital infrastructure.

4. Other Industry Voices: Spectrum Ecosystem Concerns

Complicating the picture further, Bharti Airtel has also weighed in, but with a different angle. Instead of opposing mobile allocation outright, Airtel has urged deferring the auction of the contested upper-6 GHz bands, citing ecosystem and device readiness issues

Interestingly, Qualcomm, the U.S.-based chipset maker, appears to share Airtel’s cautious view. It said that delaying the auction until after WRC-27 would help India align with global standards for future mobile services (particularly 6G) and preserve strategic flexibility.

5. Regulatory Backdrop: What India’s Government Has Proposed

To understand the stakes, here’s a quick rundown of the Indian government’s current stance on the 6 GHz band (according to recent regulatory disclosures):

• Delicensing of Lower 6 GHz: The government has already decided to delicense, or make freely accessible, the lower 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz) for low-power applications, primarily Wi-Fi.

• Auctioning Upper 6 GHz: As per current plans, approximately 400 MHz in the 6 GHz band will be made available for auction, presumably for licensed use.

• Longer-Term Availability: Another ~300 MHz is expected to free up by 2030.

• Delicensed Portion: About 500 MHz of the 6 GHz band is slated to be delicensed for unlicensed, low-power use.

6. Key Arguments from Both Sides

Here’s a breakdown of the major talking points from each camp:

7. Why This Debate Matters

This is not just a technical issue — it has deep strategic, commercial, and policy implications:

1. Future of India’s Digital Infrastructure
   How India allocates this spectrum could influence the trajectory of its mobile networks, Wi-Fi deployment, and even the competitive dynamics between telcos and tech firms.

2. 6G Readiness
   The upper 6 GHz band is viewed by many as a key mid-band resource not just for 5G, but potentially 6G. Decisions made now could either lock in or limit India’s future technological capabilities.

3. Economic Value
   Spectrum is a scarce national resource. Licensed auctions generate revenue for the exchequer, while unlicensed use fosters innovation and competition. Striking the right balance is economically significant.

4. Regulatory Precedent
   How TRAI and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) resolve this could set a precedent for how India handles future spectrum debates, especially with emerging wireless technologies.

5. Global Alignment
   With the WRC-27 on the horizon, India’s choices will be weighed against global norms. Companies like Qualcomm and the U.S. tech group are pushing for decisions that align with international standards and future spectrum agendas.                                                                                                                                                                                   FORE MORE INFORMATION

8. Challenges & Risks

There are several challenges and potential pitfalls for both sides:

• Reliability of Future IMT Deployment: Telcos like Jio and Vi argue for licensed mobile use, but the tech firms question whether the mobile ecosystem (devices, network gear) is ready. If IMT deployment fails or lags, capital could be wasted.

• Regulatory Delay: If TRAI delays (as tech firms want), telcos might argue that India is losing a critical opportunity to expand capacity and prepare for next-gen mobile services.

• Unlicensed Interference: Telcos worry that large-scale unlicensed Wi-Fi deployment (especially by global OTTs) could compromise spectrum quality or preclude future licensed use.

• Revenue Trade-offs: The government must weigh auction revenue (from mobile licensing) against the broader economic and innovation gains of unlicensed spectrum.

• Global Negotiation Risk: Decisions made now, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum before WRC-27, could constrain India’s negotiating power on the international stage.

9. What Could Happen Next

Based on the current positions and the regulatory process, several scenarios could play out:

1. Partial Compromise
   TRAI could decide on a hybrid allocation: some portions of upper-6 GHz reserved for IMT, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum and others left unlicensed or interim-unlicensed. This would partly satisfy both camps.

2. Auction Delay
   The regulator might defer auctioning the IMT-intended 6 GHz bands until after WRC-27, just as Qualcomm and other players suggest. This would buy time but could delay mobile network expansion.

3. Full Reserved Delicensing
   If the U.S. tech majors’ lobby succeeds, TRAI could lean toward a stronger Wi-Fi-first policy, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum allocating most or all of the upper 6 GHz band to unlicensed use.

4. Regulatory Re-Engineering
   Authorities might revisit spectrum policy more fundamentally: rework licensing frameworks, device readiness criteria, and unlicensed use norms to better balance innovation and mobile capacity.

5. Long-Term Strategic Partnerships
   Telcos or the government might partner with tech firms (including global ones) on shared infrastructure or innovation labs to accelerate readiness for IMT in 6 GHz — a more collaborative approach.

10. Broader Implications for India’s Digital Future

This debate is emblematic of a larger trend: as India seeks to expand its digital infrastructure, it must balance multiple priorities — revenue, innovation, equity, global alignment, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum and technological ambition.

• Digital Inclusion: Allocating spectrum for Wi-Fi could democratize access, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum enabling more affordable connectivity via routers, public hotspots, and local networks.

• Innovation Ecosystem: Unlicensed spectrum nurtures experimentation. Startups, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum app developers, hardware makers can innovate without waiting for licensed auctions or regulatory hurdles.

• Mobile Dominance: At the same time, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum licensed IMT spectrum ensures that telcos can scale, provide reliable mobile broadband, and build out future services like IoT, industrial networks, and 6G.

• Strategic Autonomy: How India navigates this may influence its strategic autonomy in telecommunications — whether it remains a mobile-first market or evolves toward more open, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum hybrid use of spectrum.

• Global Leadership: With WRC-27 looming, India’s decisions could position it as a thought leader in spectrum policy, especially in the Global South.

Conclusion

The clash between U.S. tech majors and Indian telecom operators over the 6 GHz spectrum allocation is more than a technical tug-of-war — it’s a battle over India’s digital destiny. Should the country earmark the band for licensed mobile services to fuel future 5G/6G growth? Or should it reserve it for unlicensed Wi-Fi, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum unlocking broad-based innovation and democratized connectivity?

The decision TRAI and the government make will reverberate across India’s telecom landscape, shaping not only network architecture but also the business models, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum  innovation pathways, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum and global competitiveness of Indian digital infrastructure.

As both sides put forward their arguments, one thing is clear: spectrum policy is no longer just about radio waves — it’s about power, progress, and the future of connectivity in India.

If you like, I can also include expert quotes, background on global 6GHz policies, Indian Telcos’ Bid for 6 GHz Spectrum and possible impact scenarios in India — do you want me to expand with that?                                                          ALSO READ:-Residents Demand Tighter Regulation of Delhi’s Waste Plants Under GRAP Norms 2025