Frequency band
A frequency band is a named slice of radio spectrum with an uplink and a downlink range, such as B3 or n78.
Definitions only — a term explained here is not a service we sell.
A frequency band is a named slice of radio spectrum with an uplink and a downlink range. Devices and operators overlap only where their bands intersect, including subset cases where one band extends another.
A paired range
FDD bands have separate uplink and downlink ranges; TDD bands share one range and split it by time. The band number is a 3GPP label for a defined frequency range; national regulators decide who may use that range.
LTE bands use B numbers and 5G NR bands use n numbers. Some NR bands overlap LTE bands, so a device can support 5G on a frequency it already uses for LTE.
Bands and relative reach
| Value | Zone | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| B28 | 700 MHz | Low band · 95% |
| B3 | 1800 MHz | Mid band · 65% |
| B7 | 2600 MHz | Mid-high band · 45% |
| B41 | 2500 MHz | Wide mid band · 50% |
| n78 | 3500 MHz | 5G mid band · 30% |
B28 · Relative reach
Text description
The chart lists B28, B3, B7, B41 and n78, with each band's MHz value and a relative-reach bar. The note names B28, the lowest band shown. The bars are illustrative.
Support and overlap
Low bands reach further; high bands carry more capacity. A device that supports a wider band may cover a narrower one, and an operator can deploy a subset, so a device that lists the band may still fail on the specific channel.
Band tables name holdings per operator. Check the list per SKU, including uplink and downlink ranges, the channel widths and the duplex mode. Test one device per region on the live network; the Band finder turns a band list into channels.