5G has defined and frozen the 5G NR (New Radio) frequency bands in the latest published version (Rel. 17) of the respective 3GPP technical standard (TS 38.104) where the 5G NR network can operate.
5G operates on different frequency bands based on the region and specific operator providing services.
All 5G NR frequencies are represented with the prefix “n”, bands which are conflict with 4G LTE bands use the same band number. In the 4G network, bands used to be represented with the prefix “B”.
Frequency bands for 5G NR, are the air interface of 5G network, are basically separated into two different frequency ranges:
- Frequency Range 1 (FR1): Includes sub-6 GHz frequency bands, some of which band area was used by previous standards but potentially covers a new spectrum from 410 MHz to 7125 MHz.
- Frequency Range 1 (FR2): Frequency bands from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz.
Below is the 5G NR frequency band range detail:
| Frequency Range Type | Frequency Range |
| FR1 | 410 MHz to 7125 |
| FR2 | 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz |
5G NR Band Classification based on Duplex Mode
5G NR bands are classified into two categories on the basis of the duplex mode it uses:
- Frequency Division Duplex Bands (FDD):
- Time Division Duplex Bands (TDD):
FDD and TDD bands are differentiated on the basis of how it is treating Data.
FDD stands for Frequency Division Duplex Bands, uses a pair of frequencies, one for uplink purpose and another for downlink purpose.
On the other hand, TDD uses only a single band which is used for both uplink and downlink purposes. TDD channels divide time between them for “transmit” and “receive” on the same frequency band.
5G NR Operating Bands FR1 Range (450 MHz – 6000 MHz):
| Band | Uplink Frequency(MHz) | Downlink Frequency(MHz) | Channel bandwidths(MHz) | Duplex mode | ƒ(MHz) | Subset of band | Common name | Duplex spacing(MHz) |
| n1 | 1920 – 1980 | 2110 – 2170 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50 | FDD | 2100 | IMT | 190 | |
| n2 | 1850 – 1910 | 1930 – 1990 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 | FDD | 1900 | n25 | PCS | 80 |
| n3 | 1710 – 1785 | 1805 – 1880 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 | FDD | 1800 | DCS | 95 | |
| n5 | 824 – 849 | 869 – 894 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 | FDD | 850 | n26 | CLR | 45 |
| n7 | 2500 – 2570 | 2620 – 2690 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50 | FDD | 2600 | IMT‑E | 120 | |
| n8 | 880 – 915 | 925 – 960 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 35 | FDD | 900 | Extended GSM | 45 | |
| n12 | 699 – 716 | 729 – 746 | 5, 10, 15 | FDD | 700 | n85 | Lower SMH | 30 |
| n13 | 777 – 787 | 746 – 756 | 5, 10 | FDD | 700 | Upper SMH | −31 | |
| n14 | 788 – 798 | 758 – 768 | 5, 10 | FDD | 700 | Upper SMH | −30 | |
| n18 | 815 – 830 | 860 – 875 | 5, 10, 15 | FDD | 850 | n26 | Lower 800 (Japan) | 45 |
| n20 | 832 – 862 | 791 – 821 | 5, 10, 15, 20 | FDD | 800 | Digital Dividend (EU) | −41 | |
| n24 | 1626.5 – 1660.5 | 1525 – 1559 | 5, 10 | FDD | 1600 | Upper L‑Band (US) | −101.5 | |
| n25 | 1850 – 1915 | 1930 – 1995 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 | FDD | 1900 | Extended PCS | 80 | |
| n26 | 814 – 849 | 859 – 894 | 5, 10, 15, 20 | FDD | 850 | Extended CLR | 45 | |
| n28 | 703 – 748 | 758 – 803 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 | FDD | 700 | APT | 55 | |
| n29 | N/A | 717 – 728 | 5, 10 | SDL | 700 | Lower SMH | N/A | |
| n30 | 2305 – 2315 | 2350 – 2360 | 5, 10 | FDD | 2300 | WCS | 45 | |
| n34 | 2010 – 2025 | 2010 – 2025 | 5, 10, 15 | TDD | 2100 | IMT | N/A | |
| n38 | 2570 – 2620 | 2570 – 2620 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 | TDD | 2600 | IMT‑E | N/A | |
| n39 | 1880 – 1920 | 1880 – 1920 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 | TDD | 1900 | DCS–IMT Gap | N/A | |
| n40 | 2300 – 2400 | 2300 – 2400 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 90, 100 | TDD | 2300 | S-Band | N/A | |
| n41 | 2496 – 2690 | 2496 – 2690 | 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 | TDD | 2500 | BRS | N/A | |
| n46 | 5150 – 5925 | 5150 – 5925 | 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 | TDD | 5200 | U-NII-1–4 | N/A | |
| n47 | 5855 – 5925 | 5855 – 5925 | 10, 20, 30, 40 | TDD | 5900 | U-NII-4 | N/A | |
| n48 | 3550 – 3700 | 3550 – 3700 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 | TDD | 3500 | CBRS (US) | N/A | |
| n50 | 1432 – 1517 | 1432 – 1517 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80 | TDD | 1500 | L‑Band (EU) | N/A | |
| n51 | 1427 – 1432 | 1427 – 1432 | 5 | TDD | 1500 | L‑Band Extension (EU) | N/A | |
| n53 | 2483.5 – 2495 | 2483.5 – 2495 | 5, 10 | TDD | 2400 | S band | N/A | |
| n65 | 1920 – 2010 | 2110 – 2200 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 50 | FDD | 2100 | Extended IMT | 190 | |
| n66 | 1710 – 1780 | 2110 – 2200 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 | FDD | 17002100 | Extended AWS | 400 | |
| n67 | N/A | 738 – 758 | 5, 10, 15, 20 | SDL | 700 | EU 700 | N/A | |
| n70 | 1695 – 1710 | 1995 – 2020 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 | FDD | 2000 | Supplementary AWS | 300 | |
| n71 | 663 – 698 | 617 – 652 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 | FDD | 600 | Digital Dividend (US) | −46 | |
| n74 | 1427 – 1470 | 1475 – 1518 | 5, 10, 15, 20 | FDD | 1500 | Lower L‑Band (US) | 48 | |
| n75 | N/A | 1432 – 1517 | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 | SDL | 1500 | L‑Band (EU) | N/A | |
| n76 | N/A | 1427 – 1432 | 5 | SDL | 1500 | Extended L‑Band (EU) | N/A | |
| n77 | 3300 – 4200 | 3300 – 4200 | 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 | TDD | 3700 | C-Band | N/A | |
| n78 | 3300 – 3800 | 3300 – 3800 | 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 | TDD | 3500 | n77 | C-Band | N/A |
| n79 | 4400 – 5000 | 4400 – 5000 | 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 | TDD | 4700 | C-Band | N/A | |
| n80 | 1710 – 1785 | N/A | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 | SUL | 1800 | DCS | N/A | |
| n81 | 880 – 915 | N/A | 5, 10, 15, 20 | SUL | 900 | Extended GSM | N/A | |
| n82 | 832 – 862 | N/A | 5, 10, 15, 20 | SUL | 800 | Digital Dividend (EU) | N/A | |
| n83 | 703 – 748 | N/A | 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 | SUL | 700 | APT | N/A | |
| n84 | 1920 – 1980 | N/A | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 | SUL | 2100 | IMT | N/A | |
| n85 | 698 – 716 | 728 – 746 | 5, 10, 15 | FDD | 700 | Extended Lower SMH | 30 | |
| n86 | 1710 – 1780 | N/A | 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 | SUL | 1700 | n80 | Extended AWS | N/A |
| n89 | 824 – 849 | N/A | 5, 10, 15, 20, 50 (sic) | SUL | 850 | CLR | N/A | |
| n90 | 2496 – 2690 | 2496 – 2690 | 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 90, 100 | TDD | 2500 | n41 | BRS | N/A |
| n91 | 832 – 862 | 1427 – 1432 | 5, 10 | FDD | 8001500 | DD (EU)L-Band (EU) | 570 – 595 | |
| n92 | 832 – 862 | 1432 – 1517 | 5, 10, 15, 20 | FDD | 8001500 | DD (EU)L-Band (EU) | 600 – 660 | |
| n93 | 880 – 915 | 1427 – 1432 | 5, 10 | FDD | 9001500 | Extended GSML-Band (EU) | 527 – 547 | |
| n94 | 880 – 915 | 1432 – 1517 | 5, 10, 15, 20 | FDD | 9001500 | Extended GSML-Band (EU) | 532 – 632 | |
| n95 | 2010 – 2025 | N/A | 5, 10, 15 | SUL | 2100 | IMT | N/A | |
| n96 | 5925 – 7125 | 5925 – 7125 | 20, 40, 60, 80 | TDD | 6000 | U-NII-5–9 | N/A | |
| n97 | 2300 – 2400 | N/A | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 | SUL | 2300 | S-Band | N/A | |
| n98 | 1880 – 1920 | N/A | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 | SUL | 1900 | DCS–IMT Gap | N/A | |
| n99 | 1626.5 – 1660.5 | N/A | 5, 10 | SUL | 1600 | Upper L‑Band (US) | N/A |
*These bands Include Frequency division duplexing (FDD); time division duplexing (TDD); FDD supplemental downlink (SDL); FDD supplemental uplink (SUL)*
5G NR Operating Bands in FR2 (24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz):
| Band | Uplink / Downlink(GHz) | Channel bandwidths(MHz) | ƒ(GHz) | Subset of band | Common name |
| n257 | 26.50 – 29.50 | 50, 100, 200, 400 | 28 | LMDS | |
| n258 | 24.25 – 27.50 | 50, 100, 200, 400 | 26 | K-band | |
| n259 | 39.50 – 43.50 | 50, 100, 200, 400 | 41 | V-band | |
| n260 | 37.00 – 40.00 | 50, 100, 200, 400 | 39 | Ka-band | |
| n261 | 27.50 – 28.35 | 50, 100, 200, 400 | 28 | n257 | Ka-band |
| n262 | 47.20 – 48.20 | 50, 100, 200, 400 | 47 | V-band |
*These bands use Time-division duplexing (TDD) mode*
Supplementary Bands
Supplementary Downlink (SDL) and Supplementary Uplink (SUL) are the modes, that allow for additional capacity, either allowing only uplink or downlink capabilities.
As the name suggests, Supplementary bands are used as additional spectrum frequency bands to enhance the link capacity.
Supplementary Downlink Bands (SDL)
FDD bands are paired and dedicated for uplink and downlink purposes. In addition to these bands, 3GPP has added support for a few additional bands that are defined to use only in the downlink direction.
These are known as Supplementary Down Link bands. SDL bands can be used as secondary bands to carry out the downlink user plane.
SDL was the feature proposed by Qualcomm R&D’s HSPA+ program for enhancing downlink capacity in Release 9 (and later on releases). Idea was to enhance the downlink capacity by utilizing the unused additional carriers with original paired downlink & uplink carriers.
5G Frequency Spectrum allocated for Supplementary Downlink (SDL) by 3GPP:
| NR Operating Band | UL(Uplink) Operating Band (MHz) | DL (Downlink) Operating Band (MHz) | Duplex Mode |
| n29 | N/A | 717 – 728 | SDL |
| n67 | N/A | 738 – 758 | SDL |
| n75 | N/A | 1432 – 1517 | SDL |
| n76 | N/A | 1427 – 1432 | SDL |
Supplementary Uplink Bands (SUL)
Usually, Cell coverage for uplink is less than the downlink. To reduce the performance degradation, very low-frequency bands are used additionally with the original uplink frequency bands.
For time being when channel conditions are poor and specific network-defined criteria met, these additional SUL frequency bands are used and get reverted back once the network is in good condition.
There are already defined SUL bands which are n80, n81, n82, n83, n84, n86. SUL is mainly used for coverage expansion in high-frequency range use cases.
5G Frequency Spectrum allocated for Supplementary Downlink (SDL) by 3GPP:
| NR Operating Band | UL(Uplink) Operating Band (MHz) | DL (Downlink) Operating Band (MHz) | Duplex Mode |
| n80 | 1710 – 1785 | N/A | SUL |
| n81 | 880 – 915 | N/A | SUL |
| n82 | 832 – 862 | N/A | SUL |
| n83 | 703 – 748 | N/A | SUL |
| n84 | 1920 – 1980 | N/A | SUL |
| n86 | 1710 – 1780 | N/A | SUL |
| n89 | 824 – 849 | N/A | SUL |
| n95 | 2010 – 2025 | N/A | SUL |
| n97 | 2300 – 2400 | N/A | SUL |
| n98 | 1880 – 1920 | N/A | SUL |
| n99 | 1626.5 – 1660.5(Uplink restricted to 1627.5–1637.5 MHz and 1646.5–1656.5 MHz) | N/A | SUL |
5G Frequency Bands are also classified as Standalone (SA), meaning they can operate independently of than 4G LTE network or Non-Standalone (NSA), meaning 5G works as a secondary layer over 4G which works as a base for data calls to be established.
Most Popular 5G Frequency Bands
The most popular band in 5G, which is also getting tested and deployed across almost all countries in Europe and Asia, is the mid-band – 3.3-3.8GHz frequency band range.
5G Most Popular Band – n78
The n78 band which is also referred to as 3500 MHz or the 3.5 GHz band, also known as C-Band is the most popular band. The reason being popular is, it offers good coverage, speed and most commonly available.
As of now, lower frequencies are already used in 3G and 4G networks so almost 5G would be relying on the 3.3-3.8 GHz range to deliver the 5G services.
In India, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has given the approval to Indian operators to start the 5G trials, n78 band might be the most popular band to test the services because of usage and popularity of the band.
So, mid-band (3.2- 3.67 GHz) frequencies with mmWave band (24.25-28.5GHz) and the sub gigahertz band (700MHz) will be mostly used for testing the services.