Telecom operators started using radio frequencies to transmit and receive voice and data since the introduction of 1G (first-generation) mobile networks. To support the growing demands of speed, capacity, and low latency, many more frequency bands have been assigned with every passing generation of technology, i.e., 2G, 3G, LTE (4G), and now 5G.
Key Takeaways
- LTE and 5G NR Band Numbering: LTE bands are identified by numbers (e.g., Band 1, Band 3), while 5G NR bands use an “n” prefix (e.g., n78, n41). Some bands are shared between LTE and 5G NR.
- Two Duplex Modes: FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) uses separate frequencies for uplink and downlink, while TDD (Time Division Duplex) uses the same frequency but alternates between uplink and downlink using time slots.
- FR1 vs FR2: 5G NR is divided into two frequency ranges — FR1 (Sub-7 GHz, or traditionally Sub-6 GHz) for wide coverage and building penetration, and FR2 (mmWave, above 24 GHz) for ultra-high speed over shorter distances.
- More Than 80 Active Bands: The sub-6 GHz spectrum alone has over 80 active frequency bands, with more being allocated in the mmWave range to support growing 5G demand.
- Band Selection Matters: The frequency band determines coverage range, data speed, and device compatibility — which is why modern smartphones support dozens of bands simultaneously.
There are more than 80 active frequency bands in the sub-6GHz spectrum, and a lot of new bands are yet to be allocated in the millimeter wave spectrum. In FDD mode (Frequency Division Duplex), a separate frequency range of the bands is used for uplink and downlink.
Here are some of the common terms related to LTE frequency bands:
Downlink and Uplink
Downlink
From the UE (mobile device) perspective, the downlink is the signal transmitted by the base station and received at the mobile device. Each network operator will sometimes have separate frequency bands or share a common band.
For example, when you stream a video or load a webpage, that data arrives via the downlink. Downlink speeds are typically higher than uplink speeds since most users consume more data than they upload.
Uplink
From the UE (mobile device) perspective, uplink is the signal transmitted to the base station from the mobile device.
Uploading a photo, making a video call, or sending data to a cloud server are common uplink activities. In FDD networks, uplink and downlink operate on different frequencies simultaneously.
The latest mobile devices are capable of supporting multiple frequency bands used by service providers across the globe.
Duplex Modes
LTE operated in two modes: FDD and TDD
Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) Mode
In frequency division duplex mode, separate frequency bands are used to transmit and receive. There will be a clear band gap between the two frequency slots, known as guard bands.
FDD is commonly used in lower frequency bands such as Band 1, Band 3, and Band 7. Because uplink and downlink operate simultaneously on separate frequencies, FDD is well-suited for voice calls and applications that require balanced upload and download speeds.
Using a sufficient band gap will help to reduce interference from each band while sending and receiving simultaneously.
Time Division Duplex (TDD) Mode
In time division duplex mode, the full spectrum can be used to send and receive information. During the transmit (uplink) mode of operation, the receive mode will be inactive/off (UE will not receive any data). Similarly, the transmit mode will not be active during receiving (downlink).
TDD is widely used in higher frequency bands such as n41, n77, and n78 — the most commonly deployed 5G NR bands globally. Since uplink and downlink share the same frequency, TDD can dynamically allocate more time slots to downlink when higher download speeds are needed, making it ideal for data-heavy applications.
Separate time slots will be allocated for both uplink and downlink. In between uplink and downlink, there is a tiny time frame with no uplink or downlink allowed (guard time).
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the usable frequency range within each frequency band. Higher bandwidth is necessary to support a higher data rate.
Example: Band 40
- Start frequency (f1): 2300 MHz
- Stop frequency (f2): 2400 MHz
- Bandwidth = f2 – f1 = 100 MHz
In 5G NR, supported bandwidths vary by band — FR1 bands support channel bandwidths from 5 MHz up to 100 MHz, while FR2 mmWave bands support up to 400 MHz per channel. Wider bandwidth directly translates to higher peak data rates, which is why mmWave 5G can theoretically deliver multi-gigabit speeds.
What is the 5G NR Frequency Band?
A 5G NR (New Radio) frequency band can be defined as one that covers a particular radio band used in 5G communications. Such bands have been divided into two broad frequency ranges: FR1 (Sub-7 GHz, or traditionally Sub-6 GHz) and FR2 (millimeter wave or mmWave).
FR1 has lower frequencies (below 6 GHz) and therefore, offers wide coverage and good penetration; however, FR2 has higher frequencies (above 24 GHz), which offer ultra-high speed and low latency covering shorter distances.
All 5G NR bands have an identifier (such as n78, n41, or n260) and must support FDD, TDD, or both duplexing schemes, depending on how they are deployed.
LTE and 5G – NR Frequency Band List
Not all frequency bands are equal in terms of deployment and importance. A handful of bands have become the global workhorses of LTE and 5G networks. Band 3 (1800 MHz) is one of the most widely deployed LTE bands globally, used by operators across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Band 7 (2600 MHz) is popular in urban areas for high-capacity LTE. In 5G NR, n78 (3300–3800 MHz) has emerged as the primary mid-band choice for most operators worldwide, offering a practical balance between coverage and speed.
n41 (2496–2690 MHz) is heavily used in the United States and China, while n77 (3300–4200 MHz) covers North America. For mmWave deployments, n257 and n258 are the most commonly activated FR2 bands.
| FR1 Bands | |||||||
| LTE Operating Band | NR Operating Band | Uplink | Downlink | Duplex Mode | |||
| Low | High | Low | High | Band Gap (MHz) | |||
| 1 | n1 | 1920 MHz | 1980 MHz | 2110 MHz | 2170 MHz | 130 | FDD |
| 2 | n2 | 1850 MHz | 1910 MHz | 1930 MHz | 1990 MHz | 20 | FDD |
| 3 | n3 | 1710 MHz | 1785 MHz | 1805 MHz | 1880 MHz | 20 | FDD |
| 4 | 1710 MHz | 1755 MHz | 2110 MHz | 2155 MHz | 355 | FDD | |
| 5 | n5 | 824 MHz | 849 MHz | 869 MHz | 894MHz | 20 | FDD |
| 7 | n7 | 2500 MHz | 2570 MHz | 2620 MHz | 2690 MHz | 50 | FDD |
| 8 | n8 | 880 MHz | 915 MHz | 925 MHz | 960 MHz | 10 | FDD |
| 9 | 1749.9 MHz | 1784.9 MHz | 1844.9 MHz | 1879.9 MHz | 600 | FDD | |
| 10 | 1710 MHz | 1770 MHz | 2110 MHz | 2170 MHz | 340 | FDD | |
| 11 | 1427.9 MHz | 1447.9 MHz | 1475.9 MHz | 1495.9 MHz | 280 | FDD | |
| 12 | n12 | 699 MHz | 716 MHz | 729 MHz | 746 MHz | 13 | FDD |
| 13 | 777 MHz | 787 MHz | 746 MHz | 756 MHz | 41 | FDD | |
| 14 | n14 | 788 MHz | 798 MHz | 758 MHz | 768 MHz | 40 | FDD |
| 17 | 704 MHz | 716 MHz | 734 MHz | 746 MHz | 18 | FDD | |
| 18 | n18 | 815 MHz | 830 MHz | 860 MHz | 875 MHz | 30 | FDD |
| 19 | 830 MHz | 845 MHz | 875 MHz | 890 MHz | 30 | FDD | |
| 20 | n20 | 832 MHz | 862 MHz | 791 MHz | 821 MHz | 71 | FDD |
| 21 | 1447.9 MHz | 1462.9 MHz | 1495.9 MHz | 1510.9 MHz | 33 | FDD | |
| 22 | 3410 MHz | 3490 MHz | 3510 MHz | 3590 MHz | 20 | FDD | |
| 24 | 1626.5 MHz | 1660.5 MHz | 1525 MHz | 1559 MHz | 135.5 | FDD | |
| 25 | n25 | 1850 MHz | 1915 MHz | 1930 MHz | 1995 MHz | 15 | FDD |
| 26 | n26 | 814 MHz | 849 MHz | 859 MHz | 894MHz | 10 | FDD |
| 27 | 807 MHz | 824 MHz | 852 MHz | 869 MHz | 28 | FDD | |
| 28 | n28 | 703 MHz | 748 MHz | 758 MHz | 803 MHz | 10 | FDD |
| 29 | n29 | N/A | N/A | 717 MHz | 728 MHz | 717 | SDL |
| 30 | n30 | 2305 MHz | 2315 MHz | 2350 MHz | 2360 MHz | 35 | FDD |
| 31 | 452.5 MHz | 457.5 MHz | 462.5 MHz | 467.5 MHz | 50 | FDD | |
| 32 | N/A | N/A | 1452 MHz | 1496 MHz | SDL | ||
| 33 | 1900 MHz | 1920 MHz | 1900 MHz | 1920 MHz | TDD | ||
| 34 | n34 | 2010 MHz | 2025 MHz | 2010 MHz | 2025 MHz | TDD | |
| 35 | 1850 MHz | 1910 MHz | 1850 MHz | 1910 MHz | TDD | ||
| 36 | 1930 MHz | 1990 MHz | 1930 MHz | 1990 MHz | TDD | ||
| 37 | 1910 MHz | 1930 MHz | 1910 MHz | 1930 MHz | TDD | ||
| 38 | n38 | 2570 MHz | 2620 MHz | 2570 MHz | 2620 MHz | TDD | |
| 39 | n39 | 1880 MHz | 1920 MHz | 1880 MHz | 1920 MHz | TDD | |
| 40 | n40 | 2300 MHz | 2400 MHz | 2300 MHz | 2400 MHz | TDD | |
| 41 | n41 | 2496 MHz | 2690 MHz | 2496 MHz | 2690 MHz | TDD | |
| 42 | 3400 MHz | 3600 MHz | 3400 MHz | 3600 MHz | TDD | ||
| 43 | 3600 MHz | 3800 MHz | 3600 MHz | 3800 MHz | TDD | ||
| 44 | 703 MHz | 803 MHz | 703 MHz | 803 MHz | TDD | ||
| 45 | 1447 MHz | 1467 MHz | 1447 MHz | 1467 MHz | TDD | ||
| 46 | 5150 MHz | 5925 MHz | 5150 MHz | 5925 MHz | TDD | ||
| 47 | 5855 MHz | 5925 MHz | 5855 MHz | 5925 MHz | TDD | ||
| 48 | n48 | 3550 MHz | 3700 MHz | 3550 MHz | 3700 MHz | TDD | |
| 49 | 3550 MHz | 3700 MHz | 3550 MHz | 3700 MHz | TDD | ||
| 50 | n50 | 1432 MHz | 1517 MHz | 1432 MHz | 1517 MHz | TDD | |
| 51 | n51 | 1427 MHz | 1432 MHz | 1427 MHz | 1432 MHz | TDD | |
| 52 | 3300 MHz | 3400 MHz | 3300 MHz | 3400 MHz | TDD | ||
| 53 | n53 | 2483.5 MHz | 2495 MHz | 2483.5 MHz | 2495 MHz | TDD | |
| 65 | n65 | 1920 MHz | 2010 MHz | 2110 MHz | 2200 MHz | 100 | FDD |
| 66 | n66 | 1710 MHz | 1780 MHz | 2110 MHz | 2200 MHz | 330 | FDD |
| 67 | N/A | N/A | 738 MHz | 758 MHz | SDL | ||
| 68 | 698 MHz | 728 MHz | 753 MHz | 783 MHz | 25 | FDD | |
| 69 | N/A | N/A | 2570 MHz | 2620 MHz | SDL | ||
| 70 | n70 | 1695 MHz | 1710 MHz | 1995 MHz | 2020 MHz | 285 | FDD |
| 71 | n71 | 663 MHz | 698 MHz | 617 MHz | 652 MHz | 81 | FDD |
| 72 | 451 MHz | 456 MHz | 461 MHz | 466 MHz | 5 | FDD | |
| 73 | 450 MHz | 455 MHz | 460 MHz | 465 MHz | 5 | FDD | |
| 74 | n74 | 1427 MHz | 1470 MHz | 1475 MHz | 1518 MHz | 5 | FDD |
| 75 | n75 | N/A | N/A | 1432 MHz | 1517 MHz | SDL | |
| 76 | n76 | N/A | N/A | 1427 MHz | 1432 MHz | SDL | |
| 85 | 698 MHz | 716 MHz | 728 MHz | 746 MHz | 12 | FDD | |
| 87 | 410 MHz | 415 MHz | 420 MHz | 425 MHz | 5 | FDD | |
| 88 | 412 MHz | 417 MHz | 422 MHz | 427 MHz | 5 | FDD | |
| n77 | 3300 MHz | 4200 MHz | 3300 MHz | 4200 MHz | TDD | ||
| n78 | 3300 MHz | 3800 MHz | 3300 MHz | 3800 MHz | TDD | ||
| n79 | 4400 MHz | 5000 MHz | 4400 MHz | 5000 MHz | TDD | ||
| n80 | 1710 MHz | 1785 MHz | N/A | N/A | SUL | ||
| n81 | 880 MHz | 915 MHz | N/A | N/A | SUL | ||
| n82 | 832 MHz | 862 MHz | N/A | N/A | SUL | ||
| n83 | 703 MHz | 748 MHz | N/A | N/A | SUL | ||
| n84 | 1920 MHz | 1980 MHz | N/A | N/A | SUL | ||
| n86 | 1710 MHz | 1780 MHz | N/A | N/A | SUL | ||
| n89 | 824 MHz | 849 MHz | N/A | N/A | SUL | ||
| n90 | 2496 MHz | 2690 MHz | 2496 MHz | 2690 MHz | TDD | ||
| n91 | 832 MHz | 862 MHz | 1427 MHz | 1432 MHz | 565 | FDD | |
| n92 | 832 MHz | 862 MHz | 1432 MHz | 1517 MHz | 570 | FDD | |
| n93 | 880 MHz | 915 MHz | 1427 MHz | 1432 MHz | 512 | FDD | |
| n94 | 880 MHz | 915 MHz | 1432 MHz | 1517 MHz | 517 | FDD | |
| n95 | 2010 MHz | 2025 MHz | N/A | N/A | SUL | ||
| XGP | 2545 MHz | 2575 MHz | 2545 MHz | 2575 MHz | 30 | TDD | |
LTE and NR Frequency Band List in Sub-6GHz (FR1)
5G – NR FR2 Frequency Bands List
FR2 mmWave bands deliver peak data rates exceeding 1 Gbps but require dense small cell deployments due to their limited range and poor building penetration. They are currently deployed in dense urban areas, airports, stadiums, and indoor venues where high capacity is critical.
| LTE Operating Band | NR Operating Band | Uplink | Downlink | Duplex Mode | |||
| Low | High | Low | High | Band Gap (GHz) | |||
| n257 | 26.5 GHz | 29.5 GHz | 26.5 GHz | 29.5 GHz | TDD | ||
| n258 | 24.25 GHz | 27.5 GHz | 24.25 GHz | 27.5 GHz | TDD | ||
| n260 | 37 GHz | 40 GHz | 37 GHz | 40 GHz | TDD | ||
| n261 | 27.5 GHz | 28.35 GHz | 27.5 GHz | 28.35 GHz | TDD | ||
NR Bands above 6GHz Spectrum (FR2)
To accommodate a huge number of devices for technologies like IoT, unused frequency bands are required in the sub-6GHz range. Millimeter wave spectrum will be used in future 5G networks to meet higher data rate requirements.
Find more about FR3 Frequency Bands
Supplementary Uplink (SUL)
SUL is a critical 5G NR feature designed to address a fundamental challenge in high-frequency TDD deployments: the uplink coverage gap. Because mobile devices have significantly lower transmit power than base stations, the uplink path tends to degrade much faster than the downlink at higher frequencies. SUL solves this asymmetry by pairing a primary TDD band with a lower-frequency band dedicated exclusively to uplink transmission.
For example, a carrier deploying mid-band 5G on n77 or n78 can pair it with an SUL band like n80 (1710–1785 MHz). Because lower frequencies propagate further and penetrate buildings more effectively, the SUL band handles the uplink traffic when the device reaches the cell edge. Since SUL bands carry zero downlink traffic, their entire purpose is to extend the effective coverage radius and capacity of the network — making SUL bands highly effective in rural rollouts and large indoor venues.
Conclusion
LTE and 5G NR frequency bands form the foundation of modern mobile communication. From the sub-6 GHz FR1 bands that provide wide-area coverage to the mmWave FR2 bands that deliver multi-gigabit speeds, each band plays a specific role in the overall network architecture.
Understanding band numbering, duplex modes, and frequency ranges is essential for anyone working in RF engineering, network planning, or device development. As 5G networks continue to mature and FR3 mid-band spectrum enters the picture, the complexity of band planning will only increase — making this knowledge more relevant than ever.
For a deeper dive into emerging spectrum, check out our article on FR3 Frequency Bands and what they mean for the future of 5G and 6G networks.
FAQ
LTE bands are identified by numbers such as Band 1, Band 3, or Band 7. 5G NR bands use a similar numbering system but are designated with an “n” prefix — for example, n1, n3, and n78. When an NR band overlaps an existing 4G frequency, they share the same band number. Operators can seamlessly run both technologies on the exact same spectrum using Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS).
FR1 covers sub-6 GHz frequencies and is the primary spectrum used for wide-area 5G coverage. It offers good building penetration and coverage range, making it the backbone of most commercial 5G deployments. FR2 covers mmWave frequencies above 24 GHz and delivers ultra-high data rates and low latency, but over much shorter distances with limited building penetration. FR2 is typically deployed in dense urban areas, stadiums, and indoor venues.
The most widely deployed 5G NR bands globally are n78 (3300–3800 MHz) in Europe and Asia, n77 (3300–4200 MHz) in North America and Asia, and n41 (2496–2690 MHz), which is widely used in the United States and China. For mmWave deployments, n257 and n258 are the most commonly used FR2 bands.
FDD uses separate frequency bands for uplink and downlink, allowing simultaneous transmission and reception. It is commonly used in lower frequency bands and works well for voice and balanced data applications. TDD uses a single frequency band for both uplink and downlink, alternating between the two using time slots. TDD is more flexible for data-heavy applications since it can allocate more time to downlink when needed.
Mobile operators around the world use different frequency bands depending on their spectrum licenses and network architecture. A smartphone sold globally needs to support dozens of bands to ensure it works across different operators and countries. For example, a typical flagship smartphone today supports over 20 LTE bands and more than 10 5G NR bands to ensure global roaming compatibility.
SUL stands for Supplementary Uplink. It is a 5G NR feature that uses a lower frequency band exclusively for uplink transmission to improve uplink coverage and capacity. SUL bands such as n80, n81, and n82 do not have a paired downlink — they are used alongside a primary TDD band to extend uplink range in areas where the primary band’s uplink performance is limited.
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