India's Department of Telecommunications has formally published in the Official Gazette the Low Power and Very Low Power Wireless Access Systems (including Wireless Local Area Networks) in the Lower 6 GHz Band (Exemption) Rules, 2026. Signed on 20 January 2026 and effective from the date of publication, the rules open the 5925-6425 MHz band, roughly the lower 6 GHz, to licence-exempt low power wireless devices.

Core of the new rules

Individuals and businesses may now establish, maintain, operate and trade wireless devices meeting defined technical parameters in the 5925-6425 MHz band without a separate licence or frequency assignment. Two categories of application are covered:

1. Low power indoor devices: maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) of 30 dBm and maximum power spectral density of 11 dBm/MHz.

2. Very low power outdoor devices: maximum EIRP of 14 dBm and maximum power spectral density of 1 dBm/MHz.

Both categories are limited to an emission bandwidth of 320 MHz, and out-of-band emissions are strictly limited (to -27 dBm/MHz or below) to prevent harmful interference with adjacent bands, including satellite and licensed 5G services.

Operating restrictions

To keep use of the band orderly under the "non-interference, non-protection, shared" principle, the rules set several operating restrictions:

1. Certain platforms prohibited: use on oil drilling platforms is explicitly banned.

2. Restricted indoor use on mobile platforms: use inside land vehicles such as cars and trains, on vessels and in aircraft below 10,000 feet is prohibited.

3. No drone communication: the band may not be used for communication and control of drones or unmanned aircraft systems.

4. Mandatory contention-based protocols: all devices must use contention-based access protocols such as CSMA/CA so that multiple users share the spectrum fairly.

The rules specify transmitter out-of-band suppression requirements, measurement methods and the equipment certification process in annex tables and detailed provisions. All wireless devices must have integrated antennas and obtain type approval. Crucially, an interference coordination mechanism is established: if a licensed communication system, such as a telecom operator network, suffers interference from these licence-exempt devices, it may complain to the government, which will require users of the exempt devices to relocate, reduce power or change antennas and, if that fails, may recommend that they stop using the devices. Users have the right to be heard before a final decision.