Only 18% of India’s Speedtest samples used Wi-Fi 6 or newer technology in Q3 2026, according to Ookla data. Older home routers, relatively slow broadband plans and limited 6GHz usage are holding back the transition.
India has opened the lower 6GHz spectrum band for licence-exempt Wi-Fi use, creating new opportunities for advanced wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7. However, the adoption of newer Wi-Fi standards in Indian homes remains relatively low.
Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence data for the third quarter of 2026 shows that just 18% of Indian Speedtest samples used Wi-Fi 6 or newer technology. The corresponding figure was 79.7% in Singapore, 67.9% in Hong Kong and 60% in Australia.
The gap highlights a problem that goes beyond the availability of compatible smartphones and routers. Many Indian households still use older Wi-Fi equipment, while broadband speeds are often too low to take full advantage of the capabilities offered by newer wireless standards.
For consumers, this means purchasing a more expensive Wi-Fi 6 router does not automatically translate into a significant improvement in internet speed.
Only 18% of Wi-Fi connections in India use Wi-Fi 6 or newer
According to Ookla’s Q3 2026 data, India is behind several major markets in the adoption of newer Wi-Fi technologies.
The share of Speedtest samples using Wi-Fi 6 or newer technology stood at:
| Market | Wi-Fi 6 or newer adoption |
|---|---|
| Singapore | 79.7% |
| Hong Kong | 67.9% |
| Australia | 60% |
| Malaysia | 51.9% |
| Taiwan | 49.9% |
| Thailand | 48.6% |
| Japan | 46.5% |
| Philippines | 21.9% |
| India | 18% |
| Indonesia | 9.8% |
India’s adoption has improved from 2.2% in Q1 2024 to 18% in Q3 2026. However, the country still has considerable ground to cover before newer Wi-Fi technology becomes common across residential broadband connections.
These figures represent the share of Speedtest samples using Wi-Fi 6 or newer technology, not the percentage of Indian households that own a compatible router.
Most Wi-Fi 6 smartphones in India still connect to older routers
One of the biggest reasons behind the slow adoption is the mismatch between smartphone capabilities and home networking equipment.
Many smartphones sold in India already support Wi-Fi 6. However, owning a compatible smartphone does not mean that the home broadband connection can deliver Wi-Fi 6 performance.
Ookla’s data shows that 72.7% of Wi-Fi 6-capable smartphones in India were still connecting through Wi-Fi 5 or older home networks during Q3 2026.
This means the router, rather than the smartphone, is often the limiting factor.
For example, a customer may own a smartphone supporting Wi-Fi 6 but continue using the Wi-Fi 5 router supplied with a broadband connection. In that situation, the phone cannot use the full capabilities of Wi-Fi 6 while connected to the older network.
This is particularly relevant for customers using bundled broadband connections from operators such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. The router supplied with a broadband connection plays an important role in determining the wireless experience inside the home.
Why upgrading from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6 is not delivering major speed gains
A newer Wi-Fi standard can improve wireless performance, but the actual internet speed also depends on the broadband plan, router configuration, connected devices and network conditions.
Ookla’s analysis found that Indian households upgrading from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6 recorded a marginal 0.2% decline in median download speeds during the period analysed.
That does not mean Wi-Fi 6 is slower than Wi-Fi 5. It indicates that the upgrade did not translate into a meaningful improvement in measured download speeds for the sampled Indian connections.
The bigger issue is broadband speed.
Around 72.4% of Indian home broadband connections tested below 100 Mbps, according to the same analysis. India’s median fixed broadband download speed stood at 63.96 Mbps in Q3 2026.
When a household’s broadband connection is limited to around 50 Mbps or 100 Mbps, upgrading the router alone cannot increase the internet speed beyond the capacity of the underlying connection.
Wi-Fi 6 can still improve network efficiency, support more connected devices and help manage congestion. However, those benefits may not be reflected in a significantly higher internet speed test when the broadband connection itself is the bottleneck.
Wi-Fi 4 to Wi-Fi 5 upgrade delivers a bigger improvement
Interestingly, the performance difference can be more noticeable when households move from much older Wi-Fi 4 equipment to Wi-Fi 5.
Ookla’s analysis found that Indian households moving from Wi-Fi 4 to Wi-Fi 5 recorded a 99% increase in median download speeds between Q3 2025 and Q3 2026.
However, this improvement should not be attributed entirely to the router upgrade. Some customers may also have moved to faster broadband plans during the period.
The findings suggest that replacing very old routers can deliver more immediate benefits than moving from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6, particularly when the broadband connection is relatively slow.
For households using older equipment, upgrading the router and broadband plan together may offer a more noticeable improvement than purchasing an expensive next-generation router alone.
India’s lower 6GHz band is now available, but usage remains negligible
Another important development is the government’s decision to open the lower 6GHz spectrum band for licence-exempt wireless access.
The Ministry of Communications published the relevant rules in January 2026, allowing eligible low-power indoor and very-low-power outdoor wireless access systems to operate in the 5925–6425 MHz band, subject to specified technical conditions and equipment approvals.
The decision is particularly important for Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 devices, which can use the 6GHz band to access additional wireless capacity.
There is an important technical distinction here:
- Wi-Fi 6: Operates on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
- Wi-Fi 6E: Extends Wi-Fi 6 capabilities to the 6GHz band.
- Wi-Fi 7: Supports operation across 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz bands, depending on the device and regulatory availability.
Therefore, opening the lower 6GHz band does not mean ordinary Wi-Fi 6 has only now become legal in India. The development primarily enables 6GHz-capable Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 equipment to use the newly available spectrum.
Despite the regulatory change, Ookla’s Q3 2026 data indicates that 6GHz usage in India remained at 0.1% or less of Speedtest samples.
This shows that making spectrum available is only one part of the process. Compatible routers, smartphones, regulatory approvals and affordable broadband packages are also necessary for widespread adoption.
What is stopping Indian households from adopting Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7?
Several factors are contributing to the slow transition.
1. Older routers supplied with broadband connections
Many customers continue using routers installed when they first subscribed to a broadband service. Unless the operator replaces the equipment or the customer purchases a compatible router, the home network may remain on an older Wi-Fi generation.
2. Broadband plans are not fast enough to justify expensive upgrades
A Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 router can support higher wireless capacity, but a 50 Mbps or 100 Mbps broadband plan cannot deliver multi-gigabit internet speeds. The benefits become more noticeable when the broadband connection and connected devices can take advantage of the router’s capabilities.
3. Limited availability of 6GHz-compatible equipment
Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers and smartphones that support the lower 6GHz band are still a relatively specialised segment of the market. Customers also need to ensure that the equipment is approved for operation under India’s applicable regulatory rules.
4. Consumers do not always see a reason to upgrade
For households using broadband mainly for video streaming, browsing, online classes and messaging, an existing Wi-Fi 5 router may already provide a satisfactory experience. This reduces the incentive to spend more on a newer router.
5. The complete home network matters
The router is only one part of the setup. Broadband speed, fibre connection quality, router placement, walls, interference and the number of connected devices all affect actual performance.
What should Jio, Airtel and other broadband providers do?
The findings highlight an opportunity for Indian internet service providers to improve the home broadband experience through router upgrades and faster connectivity plans.
Reliance Jio, Airtel, BSNL and other broadband providers could gradually replace older routers with Wi-Fi 6-compatible equipment, particularly for customers subscribing to higher-speed broadband packages.
They could also introduce Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers as premium options where the customer’s devices and broadband plan can support the additional capabilities.
However, simply advertising the latest Wi-Fi generation will not be enough. Operators need to ensure that the broadband connection, router and customer devices work together to deliver the expected performance.
A more practical approach would be to prioritise replacing outdated Wi-Fi 4 equipment, improve access to faster fibre broadband and make advanced routers available to customers who can benefit from them.
Should you upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 router in India?
For consumers, the decision depends on the existing router and broadband connection.
If a household still uses a Wi-Fi 4 router, moving to Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 could improve wireless performance, depending on the broadband plan and devices.
If the household already has a good Wi-Fi 5 router and a relatively slow broadband plan, purchasing an expensive Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 router may not deliver a noticeable increase in download speeds.
Wi-Fi 6 becomes more useful in homes with multiple connected devices, higher-speed broadband plans and heavier simultaneous network usage. Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 can offer additional advantages when compatible devices and approved 6GHz equipment are available.
India has taken an important regulatory step by opening the lower 6GHz band. But the next phase of adoption will depend on affordable equipment, faster broadband connections and operators upgrading the routers they provide to customers.
