TP-Link starts making Wi-Fi 7 gear in India locally

TP-Link India has started local manufacturing of its Wi-Fi 7 portfolio, becoming one of the first global networking brands to make Wi-Fi 7 products in the country after the lower 6 GHz band was delicensed.

Production will begin with the Omada EAP770 enterprise access point. The company plans to expand local manufacturing across a broader Wi-Fi 7 range in phases to meet demand in India, and later assess selected export markets.

The decision follows a policy change by the Department of Telecommunications that opened 500 MHz of spectrum in the 5925-6425 MHz band for licence-exempt use. That cleared the way for wider use of Wi-Fi 7 products by businesses and households in India.

About 92% of the products TP-Link sells in India are already made locally through Indian electronics manufacturing services partners. It is targeting a localisation level of 96% to 97% over the next three years by extending local production into newer products as demand develops.

Local push

The Wi-Fi 7 rollout is part of a broader manufacturing strategy in India. TP-Link aims to build its largest global manufacturing facility in the country over five years, alongside its Mumbai headquarters and an R&D centre in Bengaluru.

India has become an increasingly important base for electronics production as networking and telecoms suppliers respond to local sourcing policies and shifting supply chains. For networking vendors, the opening of the lower 6 GHz band also provides a regulatory trigger for local assembly of newer wireless products.

Wi-Fi 7 is designed for denser network environments and more demanding applications. Businesses are evaluating the technology for sites that need large numbers of connected devices, including campuses, hospitals, retail outlets, hotels and education facilities.

The first locally made product, the Omada EAP770, is a tri-band ceiling-mount enterprise access point aimed at such settings. It works with TP-Link's Omada software-defined networking platform for centralised, cloud-based network management across multiple sites.

Enterprise focus

TP-Link has already introduced a broader line-up of Wi-Fi 7 access points under the Omada brand for indoor, outdoor and in-wall deployments. Local production now starts with the EAP770, with other products expected to follow under the phased manufacturing plan.

The first phase points to a clear enterprise focus. Enterprise wireless equipment is often deployed in larger projects, where supply assurance, price discipline and local support can matter more than in the retail market.

Sanjay Sehgal outlined the rationale for the move as India opens the 6 GHz band to unlicensed use.

"Manufacturing Wi-Fi 7 products in India reflects our long-term commitment to supporting the country's digital infrastructure ambitions and the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat," said Sanjay Sehgal, MD and CEO, TP-Link India.

He said the company also sees a broader role for India in its global manufacturing network.

"With the opening of the 6 GHz band, India is entering a transformative phase in enterprise connectivity. We are continuously strengthening our manufacturing capabilities, expanding our R&D ecosystem, and investing in partner development to not only address India's evolving technology requirements, but also position India as a strategic manufacturing and supply hub for global markets," Sehgal said.

TP-Link is part of TP-Link Systems, headquartered in the US, which sells networking products, security cameras and smart home devices, as well as enterprise networking systems under the Omada brand. The group supplies products in more than 170 countries, giving its India manufacturing plans significance beyond the domestic market.

The latest move places India at the centre of TP-Link's next-generation wireless production plans, starting with one enterprise access point and extending a localisation drive that already covers most of what it sells in the country.