India's Uncertainty on 6GHz Spectrum as WRC-23 Opens New Possibilities

## India’s 6GHz Band Usage Unclear

Despite the recent agreements made at the ITU’s World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) regarding the 6GHz band, India’s stance on its utilization remains uncertain. The conference opened parts of this band for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), which includes mobile phone services.

### Accessibility of the 6GHz Band

The portion from 7025 to 7125 MHz is set to become available in India and several other Asian nations immediately. Additionally, 600MHz from 6425 to 7025 MHz, known as the upper 6GHz band, is accessible for Region 1 countries, including parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and some nations in Asia and South America.

### Regional Agreements and Future Decisions

India and various other Asian countries belong to Region 3. A regulatory framework is already in place to allow these countries to access the additional 600MHz band by WRC-27, which is scheduled four years from now.

The 6GHz band appears to be particularly appealing to telecom operators. As noted by Ofcom in the UK, “The upper 6GHz band can provide access to wider bandwidth channels for licensed mobile use, enabling faster speeds, higher capacity, and lower latency, thus better supporting the promise of 5G.”

### Diverse Approaches Across Countries

However, policy regarding the 6GHz band differs globally. For instance, the U.S. has opened the entire 6GHz band for unlicensed use, which benefits Wi-Fi. Conversely, China is leveraging this band for both 5G and 6G technologies.

In India, the 6GHz band is partially utilized by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for satellite operations. The recent WRC decision provides India with additional time to finalize its position regarding ISRO’s use of the 6GHz band.

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### Pressure on Indian Regulatory Bodies

There’s notable pressure on Indian authorities regarding the 6GHz spectrum. On December 12, the GSMA, an industry association, sent its fifth communication within two years to Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. They advocate for auctioning the 6GHz band for 5G and 6G, insisting that otherwise, operators will struggle to meet their connectivity demands.

Conversely, advocacy groups like the Broadband India Forum (BIF) are urging for delicensing the band to enhance Wi-Fi availability, particularly to improve affordable broadband access in rural regions.

### Current Regulations and Future Outlook

As of now, India’s Department of Telecommunications has not designated the band for commercial mobile use. It’s likely that the future of this decision won’t be clarified until the next WRC in 2027.

While the 6425-7125 MHz range is a priority for Indian operators, there’s also interest in the lower 6GHz band, which spans from 5925 to 6425 MHz. Unfortunately, WRC has not yet opened this band.

In addition to discussions about the 6GHz band, WRC-23 has approved new studies across the 4GHz, 7-8GHz, and 15GHz ranges—potentially unlocking more spectrum for 4G, 5G, and future 6G applications.

### Closing Thoughts

The complexities surrounding the 6GHz band showcase the balancing act between different interests in the telecommunications sector. How do you think India should approach its use of the 6GHz spectrum going forward?