What is a delicensed (licence-exempt) frequency band in India?

Normally, using a radio transmitter in India needs a licence, and importing one needs WPC permission. A 1953 customs notification requires a Ministry of Communications licence to import any wireless transmitter, receiver or transceiver, subject to exemptions^[7]. A delicensed (or licence-exempt, or de-licensed) band is the exemption. DoT notifies a frequency range in the Gazette, with power and use conditions, and anyone may operate qualifying equipment in it without a wireless licence.

DoT's list of these notifications includes 2.4-2.4835 GHz (G.S.R. 45(E)), 5.150-5.350 and 5.725-5.875 GHz (G.S.R. 46(E)), a further 5 GHz notification (G.S.R. 1048(E) of 22.10.2018), short-range devices (G.S.R. 1047(E) of 18.10.2018), ultra-wideband devices (G.S.R. 1046(E)), 865-867 MHz (G.S.R. 564(E)) and 433-434.79 MHz (G.S.R. 698(E)), among others^[1]. The lower 6 GHz band was reportedly opened for low-power indoor Wi-Fi in January 2026^[8].

DoT's list of exemption notifications covers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth bands, short-range devices, ultra-wideband, RFID-type UHF bands and several low-frequency bands^[1]. Each notification sets its own power and use limits.

Most consumer wireless gadgets: Wi-Fi routers and access points, Bluetooth earbuds and speakers, smartwatches, wireless keyboards and mice, Wi-Fi cameras and smart plugs. WPC's own list of products that can get an ETA by self-declaration names mobile handsets, laptops, smart watches, short-range devices, microphones, speakers, headphones, earphones, printers, scanners and cameras^[4].

The best-known narrow case is the licence-free walkie-talkie. Under G.S.R. 1047(E), Personal Mobile Radio devices may work without a licence in 446.0-446.2 MHz at up to 500 mW e.r.p. They must be hand-held, with no base station or repeater, working peer-to-peer^[2]. A radio outside those limits is a licensed-band device. See walkie-talkies.

'Licence-free' describes the user, not the product. The model still needs a WPC Equipment Type Approval. Since 9 September 2024, ETAs for all wireless devices made licence-exempt by Gazette notification are granted by self-declaration on Saral Sanchar^[3]. The fee is Rs 10,000 per model^[4], and the ETA lasts for the model's life unless revoked^[4].

In the self-declaration, the importer confirms that the product operates only in licence-exempt bands within the gazetted parameters^[9]. For licence-exempt devices that are 'Free' under DGFT policy, the Saral Sanchar undertaking is enough to import them without a separate WPC import licence^[7]. If DGFT lists the item as 'Restricted', you need a scrutiny-based ETA and then an import licence^[7].

A delicensed band does not exempt you from other rules. Wi-Fi access points in 2.4/5 GHz also need MTCTE certification^[10].

Everything gets harder: users need an operating licence, dealers need possession authorisation, and each import needs a WPC licence^[7].

Apply on Saral Sanchar with an RF test report, pay Rs 10,000 per model through BharatKosh, sign the undertaking and download the certificate^[12].

Test and prototype imports, standalone antennas and accessories, and non-RF products are the main exceptions.

• Testing, prototypes and pre-launch. Licence-exempt devices imported for these purposes are exempt from ETA, but the importer gives Customs an undertaking^[7].
• Accessories. Standalone antennas, cables, connectors and batteries need no WPC import licence or NOC^[7].
• RF amplifiers are different. They do need a WPC import licence^[7].

Drones are a special case: even in licence-free bands they cannot use self-declaration^[4], and DGFT restricts complete drone imports^[14]. See importing drones.

An importer brings in a Wi-Fi router working at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, both delicensed^[1].

1. WPC ETA. Self-declaration on Saral Sanchar at Rs 10,000 per model^[4]. Consultancies report RF testing at Rs 15,000 to Rs 40,000 per model^[15] and help at about Rs 7,500 on top of the government fee^[16].
2. MTCTE. Wi-Fi access points and CPE have needed TEC certification since 1 January 2024^[17]; the delicensed band does not change that^[10].
3. E-waste EPR. Routers are EEE code ITEW22^[18].
4. Rough approval budget for WPC alone. Rs 10,000 fee + about Rs 15,000 to Rs 40,000 testing, per the estimates above, before MTCTE and EPR costs.

See importing Wi-Fi routers, WPC ETA cost and WPC ETA vs MTCTE.

Listings must show the operating frequency ranges, the ETA details with a downloadable ETA copy and a downloadable accredited-lab test report^[6]. These CCPA guidelines of 27 May 2025 apply to platforms, manufacturers, importers and sellers of radio equipment^[6]. A device that lacks an ETA, or whose frequency or power differs from the approved one, counts as 'unauthorised'^[6].

Enforcement is real. News reports in January 2026 said CCPA fined Meesho, Flipkart, Amazon and Meta Rs 10 lakh each in walkie-talkie listing cases^[19]. See before listing on Amazon.

A licence-free radio is only one approval. Most consumer gadgets also need BIS registration, and some need TEC certification. Our product research, where marked as reported, reflects consultant practice rather than an official list.

• Power above the limit. DoT found type-approved PMR 446 radios running at around 5 W and warned that using them is illegal^[23]. An ETA stops being valid once the approved parameters change^[24].
• Wrong band for India. A product built for another country's licence-free band may not be licence-free here. Under the CCPA's 2025 guidelines, radio equipment that can work in licensed bands without a frequency assignment counts as an 'unauthorised device'^[6].
• Marketplace takedowns. Listings without frequency or certification details must be taken down^[6].

Most questions come down to these figures.

• Equipment Type Approval: the WPC approval every model needs.
• Essential requirements: TEC standards for telecom gear under MTCTE.
• HS code: decides whether DGFT treats the import as Free or Restricted.
• EEE code: the e-waste code most wireless gadgets also carry.

Not sure whether your device is in a licence-free band? Run the approval checker or ask for a free compliance check.