Several global tech giants — including Apple, Amazon, Meta, Intel, Broadcom, Cisco, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise — have jointly urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) not to auction the upper 6 GHz band in the next spectrum sale, according to media reports.
Not Ready for Commercial Mobile Use
The companies said that frequencies in the 6425–6725 MHz and 7025–7125 MHz ranges are not yet suitable for commercial mobile networks. Releasing them prematurely, they argued, would result in limited utilisation and no meaningful consumer benefits.
Trials Reveal Weak Network Performance
Citing technical test results, the group highlighted weak uplink performance, poor indoor coverage, and overall inconsistent network quality in these bands. These issues, they said, could lead to the spectrum remaining idle for years if auctioned now.
Hong Kong Auction Signals Low Market Interest
The filing references Hong Kong’s recent auction of the upper 6 GHz band — the first worldwide. The outcome saw muted interest, low bids, and even unsold spectrum blocks. Major operator Hutchison skipped bidding entirely, noting no strong use case and adequate existing spectrum.
Push for Unlicensed Wi-Fi Use Instead
The companies recommended that India consider opening the band for unlicensed use, enabling technologies like Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7.
Countries including the US, Canada, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia already permit full-band 6 GHz Wi-Fi, while the EU, UK, Australia, and Japan are moving in that direction. They noted that millions of U.S. Wi-Fi devices operate in 6 GHz without interfering with broadcasters.
Suggestion: Wait for WRC-27
They advised TRAI and the Department of Telecommunications to wait for the WRC-27 deliberations, which will address spectrum policy for the wider 6–8 GHz range. Until then, the upper 6 GHz band could be better utilised for broadband expansion and local wireless networks if kept unlicensed.
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