COAI Urges DoT to Ban Illegal Wi-Fi 6E Routers

Recently, there has been a concerning increase in the unauthorized sale of Wi-Fi 6E wireless routers in India. These routers, which operate on the 6 GHz frequency band, are being sold through various e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, despite not being officially permitted for consumer use by the government.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has raised an alarm about this issue in a letter addressed to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The COAI highlighted the risks associated with these illegal Wi-Fi 6E routers, emphasizing that their usage could lead to unauthorized transmissions within the country.

The COAI has urged the DoT to take immediate action and enforce a complete ban on the sale of Wi-Fi products that operate in the 6 GHz band, both online and offline. The industry body pointed out that the government is yet to make a policy decision regarding the utilization of the 6 GHz band, making the sale of such devices illegal under current regulations.

According to the COAI, the responsibility for these unauthorized transmissions would fall on consumers who purchase and use these illegal Wi-Fi devices. This situation could potentially shift the burden of liability from the actual offenders to unsuspecting consumers, violating the provisions of the Indian Telecommunications Act, 2023, which stipulates that spectrum usage requires authorization from the Central government.

The proliferation of illegal Wi-Fi 6E routers in the Indian market poses a significant threat in terms of unauthorized transmissions and regulatory compliance. It is imperative for the DoT to take decisive measures to curb the sale and usage of these devices to safeguard consumers and ensure adherence to established telecommunications laws.