Airtel opposes Jio’s bid to repurpose 5G airwaves for Wi-Fi in 26 GHz band

A fresh flashpoint has emerged between Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio over the use of India’s millimetre-wave 5G spectrum, with Airtel objecting to Jio’s proposal to deploy Wi-Fi services in the 26 GHz band that operators acquired in the 2022 auctions for mobile broadband.

Nearly four years after telecom companies together spent about ₹15,000 crore to secure 26 GHz spectrum for 5G, questions are being raised on whether these high-frequency airwaves can be reframed for Wi-Fi-based broadband without undermining existing networks or global spectrum norms. According to people aware of the matter, Airtel has formally opposed Jio’s move in discussions with the department of telecommunications (DoT), warning of possible interference with its 5G network and deviations from globally accepted standards.

Jio’s Wi-Fi push in 26 GHz
Reliance Jio wrote to the DoT in 2025 seeking permission to use its 26 GHz holdings to deliver Wi-Fi-based home broadband and enterprise connectivity, arguing that Wi-Fi in this band could help it roll out high-capacity access at lower cost than traditional fibre or mobile-radio deployments. The push comes against the backdrop of limited global uptake of 26 GHz for 5G mobile services, given the high cost of dense infrastructure and the sparse availability of consumer devices supporting millimetre-wave bands.

In the 2022 auction, Jio bought about 22,000 MHz of spectrum in the 26 GHz band for approximately ₹6,990 crore, while Airtel secured 17,600 MHz for about ₹5,592 crore and Vodafone Idea acquired 5,350 MHz for around ₹1,915 crore. Under auction rules, operators must obtain prior DoT approval to use mobile-assigned spectrum for any alternative service, and such use must be based on standards cleared by international or national bodies such as the ITU or the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC).

Airtel flags standards and interference
Airtel has raised technical and regulatory objections to Jio’s proposal in multiple meetings and demonstrations with the government. The company has argued that any new technology in the 26 GHz band must comply with 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications, which underpin global standards for 3G, 4G, 5G and IoT, to ensure interoperability and protect mobile services.

Airtel is learnt to have cautioned that introducing Wi-Fi systems, especially high-power ones, into a band already earmarked for mobile networks could cause harmful interference with existing 5G deployments. The operator has also flagged broader concerns that high-power Wi-Fi in this range may create higher radiation exposure levels for users and potentially disrupt nearby satellite broadband operations, which depend on adjacent spectrum.

Government, TSDSI and standards process
The government has not yet given a final go-ahead, but has set in motion an Indian standards process to evaluate the proposal. The Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI) is currently working on a national standard for using Wi-Fi-like technologies in the 26 GHz millimetre-wave band. A government official said the body is examining power levels of around 43 dBm (roughly 20 W) and 48 dBm (about 63 W) for such deployments, with final limits to be calibrated to avoid excessive radiation and minimise interference.

To reduce the risk of cross-service disruption, the DoT is also considering a guard band of around 200 MHz between Wi-Fi and other services in the 26 GHz range. This would leave a portion of spectrum deliberately unused to ensure that signals from one service do not spill over into another. The Telecommunication Engineering Centre, the technical arm of DoT, has released a draft standard document for stakeholder consultation and is closely involved in the process, with a target to finalise the framework by the end of June 2026.

IEEE vs 3GPP: Standards face-off
While Airtel insists on adherence to 3GPP-based mobile standards, Jio has reportedly readied equipment and solutions aligned to Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) norms, which typically underpin Wi-Fi and other short-range networking technologies. The government, too, is referencing IEEE specifications as it explores a hybrid approach that allows Wi-Fi-type deployments within a band originally auctioned for mobile use.

This divergence has widened the fault line between the operators. Airtel argues that introducing a non-3GPP technology into a licensed mobile band could complicate coexistence, especially when India is among the first countries globally to even consider using an auctioned 5G band for Wi-Fi-like services. Traditionally, Wi-Fi in India has operated in unlicensed bands such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and, more recently, the lower 6 GHz band.

Satellite and health concerns
Beyond the mobile operators, satellite and technology industry bodies have also stepped into the debate. Experts warn that coexistence between Wi-Fi systems and satellite services in and around 26 GHz must be demonstrably safe under international Radio Regulations, and may require compatibility and interference studies at the IEEE and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) levels before large-scale deployments.

The Broadband India Forum (BIF), representing technology and internet firms, has welcomed the broader expansion of Wi-Fi into new bands but urged caution on radiation exposure. BIF has pointed out that the power levels under discussion are several times higher than conventional Wi-Fi norms, and has called for detailed studies to ensure that any new limits do not pose health risks or trigger public concern over electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions. The forum has argued that

while more Wi-Fi spectrum will boost the digital economy, regulators must minimise interference with existing telecom and satellite systems and ensure that public safety remains central to any new policy.

Next steps and unresolved issues
For now, Jio’s proposal remains under technical scrutiny, with the DoT, TSDSI and TEC working toward a standards-based framework that could, in principle, allow Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi-like services in the 26 GHz band under strict conditions. Any final approval will have to reconcile 3GPP and IEEE perspectives, address coexistence with satellite and 5G mobile services, and fit within the existing auction rules that govern the use of licensed spectrum.

Telecom operators, including Airtel, Jio and Vodafone Idea, as well as industry bodies, have so far not publicly commented on the ongoing deliberations. However, with billions of rupees already invested in the 26 GHz band and India exploring new ways to expand broadband capacity, the outcome of this dispute could set an important precedent for how flexibly auctioned spectrum can be used, and how regulators balance innovation with network integrity and public safety.
BCSBureau