Global technology companies including Apple, Amazon, Meta, Cisco and Intel have opposed Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea’s push to allocate the 6 GHz band for mobile services, telling TRAI that the spectrum is not yet suitable for IMT use and should be kept for Wi-Fi in the near term.
These firms submitted a joint response to TRAI’s ongoing consultation, arguing that the upper 6 GHz range (6425–7125 MHz) is still under global study and lacks technical readiness for mobile networks. They said opening it for Wi-Fi would immediately support India’s rising dependence on high-capacity wireless broadband across homes, businesses and public spaces.
The group has recommended that India wait until after the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference, when global norms for the band are expected to be finalised. Until then, they want the band preserved for unlicensed use, which they believe will expand affordable, high-speed Wi-Fi access.
India has already delicensed 500 MHz in the lower 6 GHz band, while around 400 MHz is expected to be put up for auction in the coming spectrum sale. Telecom operators, however, want more. Jio, in particular, has asked the government to release the entire 1,200 MHz of the band for mobile services, calling it essential for future 6G-ready networks.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents Jio, Airtel and Vi, has warned against further delicensing, saying it could weaken mobile network capacity and reduce government revenues from auctions. COAI argues that mobile operators need access to large, contiguous blocks of mid-band spectrum to meet India’s growing data demand.
Chipmaker Qualcomm has sided with the global tech companies, emphasising that India should align with international studies before auctioning the upper 6 GHz band.
With telcos pushing for more spectrum and global tech giants urging caution, TRAI now faces the task of balancing long-term mobile network requirements with the immediate benefits of strengthening the country’s Wi-Fi ecosystem. A final decision is expected after the regulator reviews all stakeholder submissions.
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