The Indian launch of Sony’s long-awaited next-generation gaming console, the PlayStation 5 Pro, has been unexpectedly postponed indefinitely. While PlayStation fans and gamers eagerly await the device, Sony’s decision has caused controversy. So why was such a decision taken?
Why was the India launch of PlayStation 5 Pro postponed indefinitely?
Actually, behind the decision lies a problem with the 6GHz spectrum band in India. The PlayStation 5 Pro features Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) for ultra-fast connectivity, and the device needs to connect over the 6GHz band. However, this band has not yet been officially allocated in India.
The Indian Department of Telecommunications (DoT) plans to reserve the upper part of the 6GHz band for 5G and 6G services, and this decision raises the issue of limited access for devices using the spectrum band. The DoT plans to make its final decision on how this band will be fully utilized by 2027.
However, this creates great uncertainty for Wi-Fi 7-enabled devices like the PlayStation 5 Pro to enter the Indian market. Moreover, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) uses the 6GHz band for satellite communications and states that interference problems may occur if telecom services are added on this frequency. Given ISRO’s concerns, the use of this band in India has become quite complicated.
Sony announced that the PlayStation 5 Pro will not be available in countries where the 6GHz band is not yet authorized. This decision has disappointed PlayStation fans in India. However, until the uncertainty surrounding this spectrum band is resolved, it seems unlikely that the PS5 Pro will be available in India.
In short, it is not yet clear when Sony’s new console will be available in the Indian market. However, given both the demands of gamers and the intense interest in technological advancements, this situation will depend on the spectrum band policy between Sony and India.