Wi-Fi Upgrade Push Faces Signal Interference Worries

Big Tech, broadband firms are pushing for higher transmission power for better Wi-Fi cover

- Jatin Grover

As India moves towards opening a key spectrum band for next-generation Wi-Fi services, the government is treading cautiously over demands to raise the power limit allowed for licence-free use of the devices in the band, officials in the know said.

The matter concerns the amount of energy—or power—that a Wi-Fi device uses to transmit its signal over radio frequencies. Higher power means the signal is stronger, allowing it to travel farther, pass through walls and other obstacles more effectively, and maintain a stable connection over a wider area.

Higher power is especially important for next-generation applications that require high-speed, low-latency connections across larger spaces. But too much power can cause interference, so the government sets limits depending on how and where the device is used (such as indoors vs outdoors).