May 21, Kathmandu-Your home Wi-Fi is set to get significantly faster as the Indian government takes a major step by allowing unlicensed use of a portion of the 6 GHz spectrum band. This decision will free up 500 MHz of additional spectrum for Wi-Fi, improving internet speeds and boosting network capacity across the country. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released draft regulations for public consultation, inviting suggestions until June 15, after which the rules will be finalized and implemented. The proposed regulations will apply specifically to the 5925–6425 MHz frequency range. According to media reports, the 6 GHz band can support speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps — a substantial increase compared to the 1.3 Gbps limit on the 5 GHz band and 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. Globally, more than 84 countries, including the USA, UK, and South Korea, have already adopted the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi use. In India, Wi-Fi has so far operated on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, which are now overcrowded. The introduction of the 6 GHz band is expected to be a game-changer, enabling high-speed applications such as gaming, smart home devices, and augmented or virtual reality (AR/VR). To avoid interference, the draft also proposes a power cap of 30 dBm for Low Power Indoor (LPI) devices using the 6 GHz band, compared to the 53 dBm allowed in the 5 GHz band. The ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) welcomed the move, stating that it has long advocated for delicensing the lower 6 GHz band to unlock next-generation wireless connectivity in the country.