diff --git a/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/ChannelBase.java b/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/ChannelBase.java
index 8dc90c946..9a786a602 100644
--- a/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/ChannelBase.java
+++ b/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/ChannelBase.java
@@ -690,6 +690,17 @@ public synchronized void unsubscribe() {
         eventListeners.clear();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * <p>
+     * Checks if {@link io.ably.lib.types.ChannelOptions#attachOnSubscribe} is true.
+     * </p>
+     * Defaults to {@code true} when {@link io.ably.lib.realtime.ChannelBase#options} is null.
+     * <p>Spec: TB4, RTL7g, RTL7gh, RTP6d, RTP6e</p>
+     */
+    protected boolean attachOnSubscribeEnabled() {
+        return options == null || options.attachOnSubscribe;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Registers a listener for messages on this channel.
      * The caller supplies a listener function, which is called each time one or more messages arrives on the channel.
@@ -704,7 +715,9 @@ public synchronized void unsubscribe() {
     public synchronized void subscribe(MessageListener listener) throws AblyException {
         Log.v(TAG, "subscribe(); channel = " + this.name);
         listeners.add(listener);
-        attach();
+        if (attachOnSubscribeEnabled()) {
+            attach();
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -739,7 +752,9 @@ public synchronized void unsubscribe(MessageListener listener) {
     public synchronized void subscribe(String name, MessageListener listener) throws AblyException {
         Log.v(TAG, "subscribe(); channel = " + this.name + "; event = " + name);
         subscribeImpl(name, listener);
-        attach();
+        if (attachOnSubscribeEnabled()) {
+            attach();
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -773,7 +788,9 @@ public synchronized void subscribe(String[] names, MessageListener listener) thr
         Log.v(TAG, "subscribe(); channel = " + this.name + "; (multiple events)");
         for(String name : names)
             subscribeImpl(name, listener);
-        attach();
+        if (attachOnSubscribeEnabled()) {
+            attach();
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/Presence.java b/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/Presence.java
index 1ada6d092..504985e98 100644
--- a/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/Presence.java
+++ b/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/Presence.java
@@ -308,6 +308,12 @@ public void unsubscribe() {
      * @throws AblyException
      */
     private void implicitAttachOnSubscribe(CompletionListener completionListener) throws AblyException {
+        if (!channel.attachOnSubscribeEnabled()) {
+            if (completionListener != null) {
+                completionListener.onSuccess();
+            }
+            return;
+        }
         if (channel.state == ChannelState.failed) {
             String errorString = String.format(Locale.ROOT, "Channel %s: subscribe in FAILED channel state", channel.name);
             Log.v(TAG, errorString);
diff --git a/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/types/ChannelOptions.java b/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/types/ChannelOptions.java
index 29186eee9..8ee10faf3 100644
--- a/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/types/ChannelOptions.java
+++ b/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/types/ChannelOptions.java
@@ -40,6 +40,17 @@ public class ChannelOptions {
      */
     public boolean encrypted;
 
+    /**
+     * <p>
+     * Determines whether calling {@link io.ably.lib.realtime.Channel#subscribe Channel.subscribe} or
+     * {@link io.ably.lib.realtime.Presence#subscribe Presence.subscribe} method
+     * should trigger an implicit attach.
+     * </p>
+     * <p>Defaults to {@code true}.</p>
+     * <p>Spec: TB4, RTL7g, RTL7gh, RTP6d, RTP6e</p>
+     */
+    public boolean attachOnSubscribe = true;
+
     public boolean hasModes() {
         return null != modes && 0 != modes.length;
     }
diff --git a/lib/src/test/java/io/ably/lib/test/realtime/RealtimeChannelTest.java b/lib/src/test/java/io/ably/lib/test/realtime/RealtimeChannelTest.java
index f58fe832f..bdeb11921 100644
--- a/lib/src/test/java/io/ably/lib/test/realtime/RealtimeChannelTest.java
+++ b/lib/src/test/java/io/ably/lib/test/realtime/RealtimeChannelTest.java
@@ -393,6 +393,71 @@ public void onMessage(Message message) {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * <p>
+     * Validates a client can subscribe to messages without implicit channel attach
+     * Refer Spec TB4, RTL7g, RTL7gh
+     * </p>
+     * @throws AblyException
+     */
+    @Test
+    public void subscribe_without_implicit_attach() {
+        String channelName = "subscribe_" + testParams.name;
+        AblyRealtime ably = null;
+        try {
+            ClientOptions opts = createOptions(testVars.keys[0].keyStr);
+            ably = new AblyRealtime(opts);
+
+            /* create a channel and set attachOnSubscribe to false */
+            final Channel channel = ably.channels.get(channelName);
+            ChannelOptions chOpts = new ChannelOptions();
+            chOpts.attachOnSubscribe = false;
+            channel.setOptions(chOpts);
+
+            List<Boolean> receivedMsg = Collections.synchronizedList(new ArrayList<>());
+
+            /* Check for all subscriptions without ATTACHING state */
+            channel.subscribe(message -> receivedMsg.add(true));
+            assertEquals(ChannelState.initialized, channel.state);
+
+            channel.subscribe("test_event", message -> receivedMsg.add(true));
+            assertEquals(ChannelState.initialized, channel.state);
+
+            channel.subscribe(new String[]{"test_event1", "test_event2"}, message -> receivedMsg.add(true));
+            assertEquals(ChannelState.initialized, channel.state);
+
+            channel.attach();
+            (new ChannelWaiter(channel)).waitFor(ChannelState.attached);
+
+            channel.publish("test_event", "hi there");
+            // Expecting two msg: one from the wildcard subscription and one from test_event subscription
+            Exception conditionError = new Helpers.ConditionalWaiter().
+                wait(() -> receivedMsg.size() == 2, 5000);
+            assertNull(conditionError);
+
+            receivedMsg.clear();
+            channel.publish("test_event1", "hi there");
+            // Expecting two msg: one from the wildcard subscription and one from test_event1 subscription
+            conditionError = new Helpers.ConditionalWaiter().
+                wait(() -> receivedMsg.size() == 2, 5000);
+            assertNull(conditionError);
+
+            receivedMsg.clear();
+            channel.publish("test_event2", "hi there");
+            // Expecting two msg: one from the wildcard subscription and one from test_event2 subscription
+            conditionError = new Helpers.ConditionalWaiter().
+                wait(() -> receivedMsg.size() == 2, 5000);
+            assertNull(conditionError);
+
+        } catch (AblyException e) {
+            e.printStackTrace();
+            fail("subscribe_without_implicit_attach: Unexpected exception");
+        } finally {
+            if(ably != null)
+                ably.close();
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * <p>
      * Verifies that unsubscribe call with no argument removes all listeners,
diff --git a/lib/src/test/java/io/ably/lib/test/realtime/RealtimePresenceTest.java b/lib/src/test/java/io/ably/lib/test/realtime/RealtimePresenceTest.java
index 9fe903675..a13fe235f 100644
--- a/lib/src/test/java/io/ably/lib/test/realtime/RealtimePresenceTest.java
+++ b/lib/src/test/java/io/ably/lib/test/realtime/RealtimePresenceTest.java
@@ -1624,6 +1624,68 @@ public void onPresenceMessage(PresenceMessage message) {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * <p>
+     * Validates a client can subscribe to presence without implicit channel attach
+     * Refer Spec TB4, RTP6d, RTP6e
+     * </p>
+     * @throws AblyException
+     */
+    @Test
+    public void presence_subscribe_without_implicit_attach() {
+        String ablyChannel = "subscribe_" + testParams.name;
+        AblyRealtime ably = null;
+        try {
+            ClientOptions option1 = createOptions(testVars.keys[0].keyStr);
+            option1.clientId = "client1";
+            ably = new AblyRealtime(option1);
+
+            /* create a channel and set attachOnSubscribe to false */
+            final Channel channel = ably.channels.get(ablyChannel);
+            ChannelOptions chOpts = new ChannelOptions();
+            chOpts.attachOnSubscribe = false;
+            channel.setOptions(chOpts);
+
+            List<Boolean> receivedPresenceMsg = Collections.synchronizedList(new ArrayList<>());
+            CompletionWaiter completionWaiter = new CompletionWaiter();
+
+            /* Check for all subscriptions without ATTACHING state */
+            channel.presence.subscribe(m -> receivedPresenceMsg.add(true), completionWaiter);
+            assertEquals(1, completionWaiter.successCount);
+            assertEquals(ChannelState.initialized, channel.state);
+
+            channel.presence.subscribe(Action.enter, m -> receivedPresenceMsg.add(true), completionWaiter);
+            assertEquals(2, completionWaiter.successCount);
+            assertEquals(ChannelState.initialized, channel.state);
+
+            channel.presence.subscribe(EnumSet.of(Action.enter, Action.leave),m -> receivedPresenceMsg.add(true));
+            assertEquals(ChannelState.initialized, channel.state);
+
+            channel.attach();
+            (new ChannelWaiter(channel)).waitFor(ChannelState.attached);
+
+            channel.presence.enter("enter client1", null);
+            // Expecting 3 msg: one from the wildcard subscription and two from specific event subscription
+            Exception conditionError = new Helpers.ConditionalWaiter().
+                wait(() -> receivedPresenceMsg.size() == 3, 5000);
+            assertNull(conditionError);
+
+            receivedPresenceMsg.clear();
+            channel.presence.leave(null);
+            // Expecting 2 msg: one from the wildcard subscription and one from specific event subscription
+            conditionError = new Helpers.ConditionalWaiter().
+                wait(() -> receivedPresenceMsg.size() == 2, 5000);
+            assertNull(conditionError);
+
+        } catch (AblyException e) {
+            e.printStackTrace();
+            fail("presence_subscribe_without_implicit_attach: Unexpected exception");
+        } finally {
+            if(ably != null)
+                ably.close();
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * <p>
      * Validates a client sending multiple presence updates when the channel is in the attaching