Bharti Airtel has reportedly opposed Reliance Jio Infocomm’s proposal to deploy Wi-Fi services using the 26 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum, arguing that the move could cause interference with its existing mobile network and is not aligned with global telecom standards.
Concerns have also been raised with the government that high-power Wi-Fi deployments in the band could lead to elevated radiation levels, affecting public health and interfering with adjacent satellite broadband spectrum.
Jio had submitted the proposal to the Department of Telecommunications in 2025, following limited adoption of the 26 GHz band for 5G services worldwide due to high deployment costs and weak support from consumer devices. Repurposing the spectrum for Wi-Fi could allow the company to offer home broadband and enterprise connectivity in a more cost-effective manner.
