According to industrial managers, some technology companies could not launch these gadgets in the country because the WiFi spectrum in the 6GHz band was not available.
In November, for example, Sony said that his PlayStation 5 Pro will not be released in India in the absence of the 6GHz band. “PS5 Pro will not be available in some countries (which currently include India) where the 6 GHz wireless tire used in IEEE 802.11BE (Wi-Fi 7) is not yet allowed,” the company had said in a statement.
Read also | The public WiFi ambitions of India are staggering while Telco's opposes the subsidy of their rivals
“No Authorization or Frequency Assignment Shall Be Required to Establish, Maintain, Work, Possess or Deal in Any Wireless Equipment for the Purpose of Lower Power Indoor and Very Low Power Outdoor Wireless Operating in The Fquency Band Area 5925-6425 MHz, “The Communications Ministry Said in a Notification Stating Draft Rules.
The use of the tire must be on a non-interference, non-protection and shared basis, according to the report. The band is currently being used by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for satellite activities.
Furthermore, the opening of the band will also allow WiFi 6th and 7 technologies to mark their presence in the country. The technology requires a high bandwidth. Moreover, many other telecom equipment makers await the clarity of the regulations before they launch WiFi 6th-compatible routers.
Companies at Loggerheads
The concept rules issued by the government assume important as telecom operators, and technology companies such as Google and Meta, were in Loggerheads about the 6GHz band. Technology companies wanted the band to be deliced and used for free to improve WiFi services, while telecom operators wanted the band for 6G services.
The government also recently approved the 600 MHz from the 1200 MHz spectrum that is available in the 6GHz band for telecom operators via an auction. For operators is the upper part, approved for auction, in the range of 6425-7125MHZ. The band is essential for the coming 6G services.
Home WiFi routers are currently working in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands. Analysts say that as soon as the band has been upgraded to 6 GHz, the broadband speeds and performance of home can be improved.
Read also | Trai, telecom companies spar about data question
The Broadband India Forum, which represents companies such as Google and Meta, has welcomed the government's design notification to release the lower part of the 6GHZ band (5925-6425MHZ Band van Licensies, which is a 500 MHz-Chunk. However, the forum has argued for the LicentieverePlum.
“A fraction of the band cannot be the full impact of the drafting that we are looking for. An adequate piece of deliced 6 GHz-Band is required to provide power technologies, such as Wi-Fi 6th and Wi-Fi 7, which will become fundamental for our digital public infrastructure,” said TV Ramacandran, president of the Ramacandran, President of the Ramacandran.
According to Ramacandran it is a good start – but the country still scratches the surface with a somewhat delayed and limited spectrum allocation. He said that WiFi 6th and 7 technologies with extra spectrum would serve as the backbone for delivering affordable, fast connectivity with low latency-like smart schools, hospitals, factories, towns and villages.
Price problems
“The opening of the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi will benefit consumers because they will be able to get choices from technology companies in the latest gadgets with the help of 6th and 7 technologies,” said Faisal Kawoosa, chief analyst at TECHARC research agency.
According to Kawoosa, despite the choices and benefits of consumers for companies, the demand for new generation of gadgets is expected to be limited in a country like India, due to higher prices.
Apple's Vision Pro, a mixed reality headset, which was also not launched in India, uses Wi-Fi 6 technology and requires a high bandwidth. Analysts said that Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, which will be available in India from Monday £29,900, will also benefit and perform efficiently as soon as the government opens the 6GHz band, according to analysts.
During an industrial event in New Delhi last year, Alan Norman, director of public policy at Meta, said: “Wi-Fi devices worldwide will be sent in the 6GHz band this year (2024). This is an alternative costs for India because it cannot experience this.”
According to Norman, 200 companies that are authorized to use the Full 6GHz band.
“The government's decision to only delicents the Lower 6GHz band is both technically healthy and strategically wise,” says Parag Kar, an independent telecom sector analyst and spectrum expert.
Read also | No spectrum auctions in 2025, the center of the middle thinking about new bands for next year
According to Kar, the decision will increase the current broadband performance for home via Wi-Fi 7.
The design rules specified by the government also state various operational restrictions for the use of wireless equipment in the 6 GHz band. The government said that all use is strictly prohibited on oil platforms.
Restrictions on use
Moreover, use is not permitted indoors on land vehicles such as cars and trains, as well as on boats and aircraft, except when the plane flies over 10,000 feet. The rules also prohibit explicit communication with whether the control of drones and unmanned air systems with the help of this frequency band.
Worldwide, more than 84 countries, including the US, shared at least 500 MHz of the 6GHz band for WiFi and innovation.