{"id":34,"date":"2019-12-29T13:54:42","date_gmt":"2019-12-29T12:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1:9402\/?p=34"},"modified":"2026-11-04T21:37:34","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T20:37:34","slug":"5g-frequenzen-und-frequenzbaender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ltemobile.de\/en\/5g-frequenzen-und-frequenzbaender\/","title":{"rendered":"5G frequencies and frequency bands"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In brief<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5G networks can combine several frequency bands. Device support, national allocation and local network deployment are three separate questions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A specification sheet lists n78, a coverage map mentions 3.6 GHz, and Germany's regulator names the range from 3.4 to 3.7 GHz. These figures describe different aspects of the same spectrum: an international band definition, a frequency range and Germany's allocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frequency, band and channel bandwidth describe different things<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A frequency<\/strong> is expressed in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). 1 GHz equals 1,000 MHz. A frequency band<\/strong> is a defined range with a band number. For 5G New Radio, that number starts with n<\/strong>, as in n28 or n78.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Channel bandwidth<\/strong> describes how much spectrum a radio connection or channel occupies. The amount a connection uses depends on network configuration and device capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example<\/th>3GPP band definition<\/th>Duplex mode<\/th>Context<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
700 MHz \u00b7 n28<\/td>Uplink 703\u2013748 MHz; downlink 758\u2013803 MHz<\/td>FDD<\/td>Low-frequency band, useful for wide-area coverage<\/td><\/tr>
2.1 GHz \u00b7 n1<\/td>Uplink 1920\u20131980 MHz; downlink 2110\u20132170 MHz<\/td>FDD<\/td>The range called 2 GHz in the original article<\/td><\/tr>
3.6 GHz \u00b7 n78<\/td>3,300\u20133,800 MHz, shared frequencies for both directions<\/td>TDD<\/td>Contains Germany's 3,400\u20133,700 MHz auction range and 3,700\u20133,800 MHz campus-network range<\/td><\/tr>
26 GHz \u00b7 n258<\/td>24.25\u201327.50 GHz, shared frequencies for both directions<\/td>TDD<\/td>High-frequency band for particular local deployment scenarios<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Selected band definitions, rather than a complete list of 5G bands used in Germany. National allocations may cover only part of a band. Sources: 3GPP TS 38.101-1 and TS 38.101-2.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3.6 GHz: n78 and Germany's spectrum award<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Internationally, band n78<\/strong> spans 3,300 to 3,800 MHz<\/strong>. Germany's 2019 auction awarded 3,400 to 3,700 MHz<\/strong> for public mobile networks. The neighbouring 3,700 to 3,800 MHz<\/strong> range is available by application for local uses such as campus networks. The band number defines the technical framework; national allocations determine which parts may be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"n78<\/a>
Diagram 1: band definition and German subranges. The bars cover this frequency range only. Diagram: LTEmobile; sources at the end of the article. Click to enlarge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the 2019 auction, Telekom and Vodafone each acquired 90 MHz<\/strong> in this range, Telef\u00f3nica 70 MHz<\/strong>, and Drillisch, now 1&1, 50 MHz<\/strong>. These figures document the 2019 spectrum award. Present-day network performance depends on deployed frequencies, sites, antennas, load and network equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spectrum around 3.6 GHz can add capacity where enough spectrum and suitable sites are available. It can also be deployed in rural areas. Site planning follows the coverage objective and demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FDD and TDD: separating transmission and reception<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With Frequency Division Duplex<\/strong> (FDD), uplink and downlink use separate frequency ranges. Uplink runs from the device to the network; downlink runs back to the device. FDD allocations are therefore often described as paired spectrum. 2 \u00d7 10 MHz<\/strong> means 10 MHz in each direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Time Division Duplex<\/strong> (TDD), both directions share a frequency range, with the network separating them in time. Bands n28 and n1 use FDD; n78 and n258 use TDD. For either method, achievable data rates depend on channel bandwidth, antenna technology, radio conditions and load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"FDD<\/a>
Diagram 2: FDD and TDD compared. Frequency separation, channel widths and time allocations are schematic rather than a particular network configuration. Diagram: LTEmobile. Click to enlarge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

FDD and TDD separate the two transmission directions. Sharing a carrier between LTE and 5G NR is covered in the article on Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

700 MHz: low frequencies for wide-area coverage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Germany auctioned the 700 MHz frequencies in 2015 as part of the second digital dividend<\/strong>. The switch to digital terrestrial television freed this spectrum. Telekom, Vodafone and Telef\u00f3nica each acquired 10 MHz of paired spectrum. The archived diagram below shows that allocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under comparable conditions, low frequencies suit larger coverage areas and reception inside buildings. Actual range<\/a> depends on terrain, buildings, transmit power and antennas. Channel bandwidth, signal quality and load also affect usable data rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basic NSA architecture with an LTE anchor and EPC<\/strong> combines LTE with 5G radio. Standalone<\/strong> connects 5G radio to a 5G core. The network configuration determines the bands used for signalling and data. Our EPC article<\/a> explains the core network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 GHz: from former UMTS spectrum to LTE and 5G<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The original article uses 2 GHz to describe the range around 2.1 GHz, identified as n1<\/strong> in 5G. Its announcement of a future UMTS shutdown reflected the situation in 2020. Telekom, for example, switched off UMTS in 2021 and uses released spectrum for LTE and 5G.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This range also saw new auction results in 2019. The old allocation diagram shows periods ending in 2025 and a subsequent section with conflicting dates. It is explicitly retained as a historical illustration. For today's operator blocks, consult the Bundesnetzagentur's current overview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26 GHz: local networks and specialised applications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The article's 26 GHz range belongs to band n258<\/strong>, which spans 24.25 to 27.50 GHz<\/strong>. The Bundesnetzagentur provides application documents for local broadband use in this range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Possible uses include local industrial networks, hotspots and specifically planned fixed wireless connections. A Fixed Wireless Access<\/strong> (FWA) connection serves a fixed location over radio using suitable equipment, often called customer premises equipment or CPE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At high frequencies, line of sight, obstruction and antenna alignment require particular attention. An indoor network is planned inside the building. For coverage from outside, the signal must also cross the building envelope. Data rates depend on this radio path and the available channel bandwidth, among other factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Integrated Access Backhaul: in-band and out-of-band<\/a> explains how device access links and a cell's wireless backhaul can use shared or separate frequency resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The international band table from the original article<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The following table retains the 44 entries from the original article<\/strong>. It documents the band definitions at that time. Current allocations and actual deployment determine present-day use in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show 44 historical band entries<\/summary>\n
Band<\/th>Duplex mode<\/th>Frequency position\u00b9<\/th>Original name<\/th>Uplink \/ TDD range\u00b9<\/th>Downlink\u00b9<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
n257<\/td>TDD<\/td>28 GHz<\/td>LMDS<\/td>26.50 \u2013 29.50 GHz<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n258<\/td>TDD<\/td>26 GHz<\/td>K band<\/td>24.25 \u2013 27.50 GHz<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n260<\/td>TDD<\/td>39 GHz<\/td>Ka band<\/td>37.00 \u2013 40.00 GHz<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n261<\/td>TDD<\/td>28 GHz<\/td>Ka band<\/td>27.50 \u2013 28.35 GHz<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n1<\/td>FDD<\/td>2100<\/td>IMT<\/td>1920 – 1980<\/td>2110 – 2170<\/td><\/tr>
n2<\/td>FDD<\/td>1900<\/td>PCS<\/td>1850 – 1910<\/td>1930 – 1990<\/td><\/tr>
n3<\/td>FDD<\/td>1800<\/td>DCS<\/td>1710 – 1785<\/td>1805 – 1880<\/td><\/tr>
n5<\/td>FDD<\/td>850<\/td>CLR<\/td>824 – 849<\/td>869 – 894<\/td><\/tr>
n7<\/td>FDD<\/td>2600<\/td>IMT-E<\/td>2500 – 2570<\/td>2620 – 2690<\/td><\/tr>
n8<\/td>FDD<\/td>900<\/td>Extended GSM<\/td>880 – 915<\/td>925 – 960<\/td><\/tr>
n12<\/td>FDD<\/td>700<\/td>Lower SMH<\/td>699 – 716<\/td>729 – 746<\/td><\/tr>
n14<\/td>FDD<\/td>700<\/td>Upper SMH<\/td>788 – 798<\/td>758 – 768<\/td><\/tr>
n18<\/td>FDD<\/td>850<\/td>Lower 800 (Japan)<\/td>815 – 830<\/td>860 – 875<\/td><\/tr>
n20<\/td>FDD<\/td>800<\/td>Digital dividend (EU)<\/td>832 – 862<\/td>791 – 821<\/td><\/tr>
n25<\/td>FDD<\/td>1900<\/td>Extended PCS<\/td>1850 – 1915<\/td>1930 – 1995<\/td><\/tr>
n28<\/td>FDD<\/td>700<\/td>APT<\/td>703 – 748<\/td>758 – 803<\/td><\/tr>
n29<\/td>SDL<\/td>700<\/td>Lower SMH<\/td>N\/A<\/td>717 – 728<\/td><\/tr>
n34<\/td>TDD<\/td>2100<\/td>IMT<\/td>2010 – 2025<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n30<\/td>FDD<\/td>2300<\/td>WCS<\/td>2305 – 2315<\/td>2350 – 2360<\/td><\/tr>
n38<\/td>TDD<\/td>2600<\/td>IMT-E<\/td>2570 – 2620<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n40<\/td>TDD<\/td>2300<\/td>S band<\/td>2300 – 2400<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n39<\/td>TDD<\/td>1900<\/td>DCS-IMT Gap<\/td>1880 – 1920<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n41<\/td>TDD<\/td>2500<\/td>BRS<\/td>2496 – 2690<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n48<\/td>TDD<\/td>3500<\/td>CBRS (US)<\/td>3550 – 3700<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n50<\/td>TDD<\/td>1500<\/td>L band<\/td>1432 – 1517<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n51<\/td>TDD<\/td>1500<\/td>L-band extension<\/td>1427 – 1432<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n65<\/td>FDD<\/td>2100<\/td>Extended IMT<\/td>1920 – 2010<\/td>2110 – 2200<\/td><\/tr>
n66<\/td>FDD<\/td>1700<\/td>Extended AWS<\/td>1710 – 1780<\/td>2110 – 2200<\/td><\/tr>
n70<\/td>FDD<\/td>2000<\/td>AWS-4<\/td>1695 – 1710<\/td>1995 – 2020<\/td><\/tr>
n74<\/td>FDD<\/td>1500<\/td>Lower L band (Japan)<\/td>1427 – 1470<\/td>1475 – 1518<\/td><\/tr>
n71<\/td>FDD<\/td>600<\/td>Digital dividend (US)<\/td>663 – 698<\/td>617 – 652<\/td><\/tr>
n75<\/td>SDL<\/td>1500<\/td>L band<\/td>N\/A<\/td>1432 – 1517<\/td><\/tr>
n76<\/td>SDL<\/td>1500<\/td>Extended L band<\/td>N\/A<\/td>1427 – 1432<\/td><\/tr>
n77<\/td>TDD<\/td>3700<\/td>C band<\/td>3300 – 4200<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n78<\/td>TDD<\/td>3500<\/td>C band<\/td>3300 – 3800<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n79<\/td>TDD<\/td>4700<\/td>C band<\/td>4400 – 5000<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
n80<\/td>SUL<\/td>1800<\/td>DCS<\/td>1710 – 1785<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
n81<\/td>SUL<\/td>900<\/td>Extended GSM<\/td>880 – 915<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
n82<\/td>SUL<\/td>800<\/td>Digital Dividend (EU)<\/td>832 – 862<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
n83<\/td>SUL<\/td>700<\/td>APT<\/td>703 – 748<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
n84<\/td>SUL<\/td>2100<\/td>IMT<\/td>1920 – 1980<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
n86<\/td>SUL<\/td>1700<\/td>Extended AWS<\/td>1710 – 1780<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
n89<\/td>SUL<\/td>850<\/td>CLR<\/td>824 – 849<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
n90<\/td>TDD<\/td>2500<\/td>BRS<\/td>2496 – 2690<\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Historical original values; whitespace normalised. \u00b9 Numbers without an explicit unit are in MHz; figures marked GHz are in GHz. For TDD, the range applies to both directions. N\/A and empty cells follow the original. The former heading with FDD repeated twice has been corrected.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Historical allocation diagrams from the original<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

English redrawings of the three archived figures retain their historical operator blocks and dates. Current allocations are available from the regulator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show the original 3.6 GHz, 700 MHz and 2 GHz allocation diagrams<\/summary>\n
\"Originalgrafik:<\/a>
English redrawing of the 2019 3.6 GHz auction diagram. Historical allocation rather than current operations or coverage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Originalgrafik:<\/a>
English redrawing of the 2015 700 MHz allocation. Paired blocks separate uplink and downlink.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Originalgrafik<\/a>
English redrawing of the archived figure, retaining its original dates. The lower section starts on 1 January 2025, while the old article text says 2026 and its original caption says 2015. These conflicting dates are documented as historical material.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

What to check when choosing a phone or router<\/h2>\n\n\n\n