The ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) has urged the central government to create a regulatory sandbox framework for 6G technology to enhance research and development (R&D) efforts in India.
According to IAFI, this framework, which would incorporate mechanisms like licensed shared access (LSA) and dynamic spectrum access (DSA), would enable innovators to test new technologies within a regulated environment.
IAFI has also recommended the immediate opening of critical spectrum bands—7025-8400 MHz and 14.8-15.35 GHz—for initial testing and research, arguing that these frequencies can support the establishment of a robust 6G network and facilitate the development of applications such as ultra-fast Internet and next-generation Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.
Furthermore, IAFI has proposed the decoupling of certain spectrum bands for industry-specific applications, including the 4940-5000 MHz band for localised industrial use, while suggesting that the 5875-5925 MHz band be utilised for Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology. The foundation contended that the 5925-6425 MHz band should be allocated for indoor use cases to accelerate the adoption of technologies like augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR), high-speed Radio Local Area Networks (RLAN), and AI-driven applications.
According to IAFI, prioritising the 7125-8400 MHz band for research could position India as a leader in developing technologies that seamlessly integrate the physical, digital, and virtual realms.
