A major policy clash has emerged in India’s telecom sector as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, through industry body COAI, have formally complained to the government against a group of leading US tech giants – Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Meta, HP and Intel. At the center of the dispute lies a highly valuable resource: the upper 6 GHz spectrum band, critical for the future of 5G, advanced mobile broadband and upcoming 6G networks.
The core disagreement revolves around how the 6425–6725 MHz and 7025–7125 MHz bands should be allocated. Telecom operators want this spectrum auctioned so it can be used for licensed mobile services (IMT). In contrast, Big Tech companies are lobbying for the same band to be delicensed, allowing it to be used for unlicensed Wi-Fi, arguing that the mobile ecosystem is not yet technically or commercially ready in this band.
COAI’s complaint is strong and explicit. The telcos warn that delicensing such a large and high-value band would lead to a “loss to the exchequer”, depriving the Indian government of significant future auction revenue. They say unlicensed use would give “disproportionate advantage to foreign OTT players”, letting Big Tech deploy Wi-Fi-based services without paying for spectrum that Indian telcos must purchase through auctions.
A major concern raised is that opening the band for Wi-Fi now could “irreversibly foreclose” its future use for mobile broadband. Since the entire 6 GHz band offers 1,200 MHz of capacity, it is extremely valuable for operators struggling to meet India’s soaring mobile-data demand. The government has already delicensed the lower 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz) for low-power Wi-Fi applications, but the telcos insist that the upper 6 GHz must remain available for mobile.
The companies’ positions vary slightly. Jio wants the entire 1,200 MHz auctioned. Vodafone Idea wants at least 400 MHz placed in the next auction. Airtel is more cautious, urging the government to defer auctions until global harmonization and device readiness improve. Interestingly, Qualcomm supports Airtel’s view, warning that a premature auction might hurt India’s 6G roadmap.
Meanwhile, the US tech giants have advised India not to rush. They suggest delaying any auction decisions until after WRC-27, which will define global rules for the 7.125–8.4 GHz bands. Their argument is that unused portions of the upper 6 GHz can be allocated temporarily for Wi-Fi, boosting connectivity at lower cost.
The stakes are high. This battle will influence the future of India’s digital infrastructure, including how the country balances revenue vs innovation, mobile vs Wi-Fi, and national policy vs global tech interests. For now, the government must decide whether the 6 GHz band becomes a powerhouse for mobile broadband capacity or a new playground for unlicensed Wi-Fi and OTT ecosystems.