In a landmark announcement on World Wi-Fi Day, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that India will delicense the 6GHz spectrum band by August 15, 2025, marking a significant push towards universal digital access and high-speed public Wi-Fi, particularly in underserved and rural regions.
“This is not just a policy change. It’s a shift in mindset. We are no longer just regulators—we are facilitators,” said Scindia at a conference organized by the Broadband India Forum (BIF) in the capital. “Connectivity is not a commodity; it is an act of nation-building,” he added, urging stakeholders to innovate around affordability, competition, and last-mile access.
Wi-Fi for All: A Vision of Inclusive Growth
Delicensing the 6GHz band is expected to unlock the potential of advanced Wi-Fi technologies such as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, enabling multi-gigabit internet speeds, reduced latency, and enhanced user experience for applications like 8K video streaming, augmented reality, and remote healthcare.
Scindia underscored the transformative potential of Wi-Fi in India’s digital journey, predicting the Wi-Fi segment will be worth $22 billion by 2035. “Every hotspot must become a hope spot,” he said, pointing to India’s leadership in low-cost digital access, with data priced at ₹9 per GB versus a global average of $2.49.
Addressing the Digital Divide with PM-WANI
Former TRAI Chairman R.S. Sharma called PM-WANI a “UPI-like revolution” in telecom. Designed as a decentralized public Wi-Fi framework, PM-WANI aims to democratize broadband by empowering small entrepreneurs to create Wi-Fi hotspots. Scindia highlighted ongoing pilots across 13 villages testing 5G-based services in education, healthcare, and agriculture.
No to Duopoly, Yes to Healthy Competition
Aiming for market concentration in telecom, Scindia said, “Duopoly is not good. We must have competition in every vertical.” India’s telecom sector is currently dominated by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, with other players, such as Vodafone Idea and BSNL, struggling to scale 4G and 5G services. The minister also hinted that spectrum for satellite internet services will be allocated soon on an administrative basis.
Why 6GHz Matters Now
According to BIF Chairperson Aruna Sundararajan, more than 80% of India’s internet usage happens indoors, making robust Wi-Fi essential for digital inclusion. “Delicensing the 6GHz band is the key to leapfrogging into next-generation connectivity,” she said, adding that mobile networks alone cannot meet the rising data demand.
A Policy Built on Empowerment, Not Exclusivity
In conclusion, Scindia framed the delicensing of the 6GHz band as a symbol of India’s commitment to technology neutrality, customer-centricity, and inclusive growth. With 40% of the population still offline and mobile tariffs rising, Wi-Fi—backed by bold policy and grassroots innovation—may soon become India’s most powerful tool for digital equality.