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US Tech Giants Oppose Indian Telecoms on 6 GHz Spectrum Sale

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Business Honor: US Tech Giants on 6 GHz Spectrum

Business Honor
24 November, 2025

US tech firms want the 6 GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi, while Indian telecoms push for mobile broadband sales.

Major US IT firms like Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Meta, HP, and Intel are opposing the Indian telecom leaders Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea's plan to put the 6 GHz spectrum up for sale for mobile internet access. The tech giants stated that the 6 GHz band should be fully accessible for unregistered Wi-Fi use rather than being ready for mobile services in a joint statement to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

At present, India has 400 MHz of 6 GHz spectrum available for sale, with another 300 MHz planned by 2030. For low-energy Wi-Fi applications, the lower part of the spectrum (5925–6425 MHz) has already been secured. US IT businesses have suggested delayed sales for the upper 6 GHz ranges (6425–6725 MHz and 7025–7125 MHz) until after the World Radio communication Conference (WRC-27) in 2027, when usage choices will be clearer on a worldwide basis. They also suggested opening some unused spectrum in the meantime for supporting Wi-Fi.

The licensing process was strongly opposed by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea. COAI warned that, offering the spectrum to Wi-Fi might permanently prevent its usage for licensed mobile broadband, reduce government revenue, and give foreign OTT service providers an unfair advantage. Vodafone Idea wants the 400 MHz to be sold right away, while Reliance Jio has requested that the entire 1200 MHz of 6 GHz spectrum to be put for sale. India's difficulty in finding a balance between immediate revenue, connectivity needs, and digital goals is brought into focus by the dispute around the 6 GHz spectrum.