On January 20, 2026, India’s Ministry of Communications published the Use of Low Power and Very Low Power Wireless Access System including Radio Local Area Network in Lower 6 GHz Band Rules, 2026 in the Official Gazette .
Issued under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, the rules formally exempt certain wireless access systems operating in the 5925–6425 MHz band from individual licensing and frequency assignment requirements, provided they comply with defined technical and operational conditions.
Scope of the Exemption
The exemption applies to low power indoor and very low power outdoor wireless access systems, including radio local area network access points and devices operating within the 5925–6425 MHz band.
These systems may operate on a non interference, non protection, and shared basis. This means users cannot claim protection from interference and must not cause harmful interference to licensed services.
Technical Parameters and Power Limits
The regulation sets clear maximum power spectral density and equivalent isotropic radiated power limits for two device categories:
• Low power indoor devices: maximum PSD of 11 dBm/MHz and maximum EIRP of 30 dBm
• Very low power outdoor devices: maximum PSD of 1 dBm/MHz and maximum EIRP of 14 dBm
For both categories, the maximum emission bandwidth is limited to 320 MHz, and out of band emissions must not exceed −27 dBm/MHz.
Additional suppression requirements apply outside the channel edge, including progressive attenuation at defined offsets from the channel center. Emission measurements must be performed using a minimum resolution bandwidth of 1 MHz, with specific integration requirements near the band edges.
Operational Restrictions
To mitigate interference risks and protect critical infrastructure, the rules introduce several operational prohibitions.
Use of the 5925–6425 MHz band is prohibited:
• On oil platforms
• Inside land vehicles, boats, and aircraft, except aircraft operating above 10,000 feet
• For communication with or control of drones and unmanned aerial systems
In addition, all devices operating in this band must implement a contention based protocol to enable spectrum sharing among multiple users.
Interference Management and Enforcement
If a licensed operator reports harmful interference caused by exempted equipment, the Central Government or an authorized officer may require corrective measures. These may include relocation of equipment, power reduction, or the use of specialized antennas.
Failure to resolve interference issues may result in a recommendation to discontinue operation. However, users must be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard before such action is taken.
Equipment Approval and Compliance Requirements
Although individual licenses are not required, equipment must still obtain type approval. Devices must:
• Incorporate integrated antennas
• Be designed and manufactured to comply with the emission and operational limits defined in the rules
• Meet applicable international or national safety standards
Recognized standards bodies referenced include the International Telecommunication Union, European Telecommunications Standards Institute, American National Standards Institute, Bureau of Indian Standards, and the International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection.
Applications for equipment type approval must be submitted in the prescribed format outlined in the Schedule to the rules. The required documentation includes detailed transmitter and receiver characteristics, such as frequency range, modulation type, spurious emissions, harmonic radiation, channel separation, sensitivity, and other technical parameters.
By formally opening the lower 6 GHz band for license exempt low power use, India aligns with global trends supporting high capacity Wi Fi and next generation wireless access technologies while maintaining structured technical safeguards.
For this article’s source information and any product certification guidance, please contact Global Validity.
Quick Country Facts
India
Certification Body: Ministry of IT and Communications, Wireless Planning & Coordination Wing
Certification Type: Mandatory
License Validity: Indefinite
Application Language: English
Legal License Holder: Local Representative
In-Country Testing Requirement: Testing Not Required
The regulatory information above is based on radio type approval certification. Access additional certification requirements in over 200 countries and territories with Global Validity’s free proprietary product certification management software, Access Manager. Learn more about the platform here or fill our quick contact form!
Global Validity is your partner for global certification success
Want to learn more about regulatory compliance and how we can help? Simply fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!