Delicensing of lower 6 GHz band to create Rs. 25000 crores in economic value in India

A new study presented by the Prof Raul Katz, President, Telecom Advisory Services, LLP, USA and Visiting Prof University of San Andres, Argentina at the IAFI Flagship annual event, the 4th Indian Spectrum Management Conference 2024 calculated the economic value of the 6GHz WiFi spectrum from US$2.9 Billion (Rs. 24467 Crores) for the lower 6GHz band 5925-6425 MHz to US$ 4.03 Billion (Rs. 34000 Crores) for the full 1200 MHz. Prof Katz had earlier done a similar study of the Wi-Fi spectrum in USA and many other studies in the area of Telecom.

This two-day event, organized by ITU -APT Foundation of India (IAFI), focused on addressing vital issues surrounding spectrum policy, management, pricing allocation for the future of wireless connectivity in India was attended by a galaxy of speakers from India and abroad.

The study reveals that allocating the full 6 GHz spectrum band to Wi-Fi could potentially contribute $4,030 billion to India’s economy by 2034. The report, titled “Assessment of the Economic Value of the 6 GHz Spectrum Band in

India,” projects economic growth through $3,544 billion in GDP contributions, $329 billion in consumer surplus, and $158 billion in producer surplus if the full 6 GHz band is allocated for unlicensed Wi-Fi. With its high economic impact, this spectrum allocation could significantly boost GDP, consumer benefits, and industry growth over the next decade.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is currently evaluating various allocation approaches, including a division of the 6 GHz band between Wi-Fi and International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), wherein Wi-Fi would receive the lower 500 MHz band and IMT the upper 700 MHz.

Bharat Bhatia, President of IAFI, emphasized the need for immediate delicensing of the lower 6 GHz band to harness the potential of Wi-Fi technologies. ” 6 GHz spectrum is crucial for India’s digital future,” . He said “Technologies like Wi-Fi 6e and 7, enabled by this allocation, will accelerate initiatives like Digital India and Make in India, fostering economic growth, innovation, and digital inclusivity.”

The conference’s sessions focused on spectrum policy advancements to meet future connectivity needs, supporting India’s expanding digital infrastructure. Industry experts expressed concern over limiting Wi-Fi to a 500 MHz allocation, which could decrease indoor Wi-Fi speeds by 50%, affecting

IoT, AR/VR, and other critical applications. Dr. Raul Katz, President of Telecom Advisory Services, warned that partial allocation could impede India’s digital evolution, as many connected devices would experience reduced performance.

With Wi-Fi technology already readily deployable, IAFI and industry stakeholders urge the DoT to act quickly on delicensing the lower 6 GHz band while decisions on the upper band are under consideration. Unlike IMT, which requires years of design, testing, and infrastructure setup, Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz band can be implemented immediately, making it an efficient solution for addressing India’s growing demand for connectivity.

CT Bureau