Refarming
Reassigning spectrum from an older generation to a newer one.
Definitions only — a term explained here is not a service we sell.
Refarming moves a block of spectrum from one generation or technology to another. The regulator may change the license terms, and the operator retunes the equipment and replaces the radios that cannot support the new use.
Why it matters
Refarming is why older networks disappear. The same frequencies can carry more traffic on a newer generation, so an operator that needs capacity has a reason to move them and retire the old network.
Generations and refarming
Generations
- 2G Digital voice and SMS
- 3G Mobile data
- 4G All-IP data Current step
- 5G New radio and core
Text description
The timeline shows generations, not dates. A regulator's assignment and an operator's equipment cycle decide when a block actually moves, and the two can be years apart.
What to check
Ask which band is being refarmed, what replaces it and when the old bearer stops. A device that only supports the old generation is at risk even when the SIM and the subscription stay valid. The network retirement term covers the device side.