Summary:
Bharti Airtel has reportedly opposed Reliance Jio’s proposal to use the 26 GHz spectrum band for Wi-Fi services, arguing that it could interfere with existing mobile networks and may not align with global telecom standards. Airtel has also raised concerns about potential radiation exposure and possible disruption to adjacent satellite broadband frequencies from high-power Wi-Fi deployments. Jio, which submitted the proposal to the Department of Telecommunications in 2025, believes repurposing the underutilised 26 GHz band could provide a cost-effective way to expand home broadband and enterprise connectivity services.
Bharti Airtel has reportedly objected to Reliance Jio Infocomm’s suggestion to utilise the 26 GHz spectrum band for Wi-Fi-based services, stating that such usage could interfere with its existing mobile network operations and would not be consistent with internationally accepted telecom practices.
The company has also reportedly expressed concerns to the government that deploying high-power Wi-Fi networks in this spectrum range may result in increased radiation exposure and could potentially disrupt neighbouring satellite broadband frequencies.
Reliance Jio had reportedly approached the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) with the proposal in 2025, citing the relatively slow uptake of the 26 GHz band for 5G deployments globally. The band has seen limited adoption due to high infrastructure costs and insufficient support from consumer devices. By enabling Wi-Fi services on this spectrum, Jio aims to provide home broadband and enterprise connectivity solutions in a more economical and efficient manner.
