India’s journey toward 5G expansion and future 6G networks has sparked a major clash between telecom operators and global tech giants. Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio, the country’s largest telecom player, is pushing hard for access to the 6GHz spectrum, a prime mid-band frequency crucial for expanding mobile broadband capacity. But Jio now faces strong resistance from global players like Apple, Amazon, Meta, HP, Cisco, and Intel, who want the same band allocated entirely for WiFi services.
This has triggered one of the biggest spectrum policy debates India has seen in recent years.
Why US Tech Majors Oppose 6GHz Auction for Mobile
In a joint submission to TRAI, the American tech companies argued that the 6GHz ecosystem for mobile services is not technically or commercially ready. They urged TRAI and the Department of Telecommunications to wait for global outcomes from WRC-27, which will decide future IMT (mobile broadband) use of the 7.125–8.4 GHz band.
Their recommendation:
- Do not auction the 6.425–6.725 GHz and 7.025–7.125 GHz ranges for mobile yet
- Allocate the entire 6GHz band for WiFi to support next-gen high-speed, low-latency indoor networks
- Use any unused spectrum temporarily for unlicensed use
The government has meanwhile said:
- 400 MHz in 6GHz is ready for auction
- 300 MHz will be available by 2030
- 500 MHz from the lower 6GHz band is already delicensed for WiFi
What Reliance Jio Wants
Reliance Jio has demanded that all 1200 MHz available in the 6GHz band be included in the next spectrum auction. Jio claims India’s data demand is skyrocketing, and mid-band spectrum is essential for sustaining 5G networks and preparing for 6G.
Vodafone Idea & Airtel’s Position
Vodafone Idea wants the 400 MHz currently available to be auctioned.
Airtel, supported by Qualcomm, has instead sought deferring the auction, citing lack of device readiness, patchy equipment availability, and the need for global harmonisation.
Telecom Industry Body COAI Stands with Telcos
COAI has slammed the idea of delicensing large chunks of 6GHz spectrum.
According to COAI:
“Licensed IMT spectrum ensures predictable performance and nationwide scalability—critical for Digital Bharat and future 6G applications.”
With conflicting interests across telcos, global tech majors, and policymakers, India’s 6GHz decision is set to shape the country’s digital infrastructure for the next decade.
