Context
Sony launched the PlayStation 5 Pro globally but did not announce its availability in India as 6GHz Wi-Fi spectrum has not yet been allowed in the country.
About GHz Wi-Fi spectrum:
Wi-Fi Frequency Bands and Spectrum Allocation:
- Wi-Fi Bands: Wi-Fi primarily uses two frequency bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
- 2.4GHz: Has limited data bandwidth but covers a larger area.
- 5GHz: Faster speeds, but with a shorter range.
- Wi-Fi Spectrum in India: The 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands were de-licensed for indoor and outdoor use in India in 2002.
- Wi-Fi 6 and 6E: In 2020, Wi-Fi 6 was introduced, using 2.4GHz and 5GHz simultaneously, with better efficiency and speeds.
- In 2021, Wi-Fi 6E was introduced, using an additional 6GHz spectrum.
6GHz Spectrum and Wi-Fi:
- 6GHz Spectrum: Refers to the frequency band between 5,925 MHz and 7,125 MHz. This band enables faster Wi-Fi speeds (up to 9.6Gbps) with the Wi-Fi 6E standard.
- Global Adoption: Several countries, including Japan, South Korea, and the U.S., have de-licensed the 6GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi use. However, India and China have not yet adopted this spectrum for Wi-Fi.
- Impact on Wi-Fi: The 6GHz spectrum is crucial for Wi-Fi 7, but Wi-Fi 7 can still operate in India without the 6GHz band, relying on greater efficiency and concurrent use of other bands.
Spectrum Allocation in India:
- Indian Spectrum Use: The 6GHz spectrum is currently used by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for satellite communications. However, satellite use is unlikely to interfere with Wi-Fi applications.
- Telecom vs. Wi-Fi Interests:
- Telecom operators are pushing for the 6GHz spectrum to be allocated for 5G and 6G use.
- Tech companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon advocate for the allocation of this spectrum for Wi-Fi use, similar to the U.S. model.
Methods of Spectrum Allocation in India:
| Method | Description | Governing Law | Application |
| Auction Method | Competitive bidding process where the government sells spectrum licenses to the highest bidder. | Telecommunications Act, 2023; mandates auctions for most spectrum allocations. | Primarily used for terrestrial mobile services where multiple entities compete for access to spectrum. |
| Administrative Allocation | Government directly assigns spectrum licenses without a bidding process. | Certain entries in the First Schedule of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 allow for administrative allocation, particularly for satellite spectrum. | Often used for emerging industries, public services, and national security. |
Key Terms:
- 6GHz Spectrum: A frequency band ranging from 5,925 MHz to 7,125 MHz, which has been de-licensed in some countries for Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 use, offering faster speeds.
- Wi-Fi 6 and 6E: Wi-Fi 6 uses 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, while Wi-Fi 6E introduces the 6GHz band for faster speeds.
- Wi-Fi 7: An advanced Wi-Fi standard that relies on the 6GHz spectrum for higher speeds but can still function without it.
- De-licensed Spectrum: Spectrum that does not require a license for use, typically made available for public or commercial use by governments.
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution)?
1. LTE is commonly marketed as 3G and VoLTE is commonly marketed as advanced 3G.
2. LTE is data-only technology and VoLTE is voice-only technology.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d)