Understanding 5G Frequency Bands | TechLTE World

1. 5G Frequency Bands 5Grepresents a groundbreaking shift in mobile communications—offering ultra-fast speeds, low latency, and massive connectivity for a wide range of applications. Central to the 5G revolution is its use of a broad spectrum of radio frequency bands, specifically allocated and optimized for new levels of wireless performance.This article explores these 5G frequency bands in depth, including their technical classifications, global usage, benefits, and challenges. Frequency Band Classifications 5G frequency bands are organized under standardized groupings based on their location in the electromagnetic spectrum. These classifications play a significant role in determining network capabilities and deployment strategies around the world. ▪FR1encompasses what is often calledlow(sub-1GHz) andmid-bands(1–7GHz). ▪FR2covers "millimeter wave" orhigh bands. ▪FR3was proposed at the 2023 World Radio Conference to cover previously unexploited upper mid-bands, but as of mid-2025, is not yet standard Band Types ▪Low-Band (Sub-1 GHz):Provides broad coverage and excellent indoor penetration. Examples: 600MHz, 700MHz, 800MHz. ▪Mid-Band (1–6 GHz):Balances coverage and capacity; includes the key 3.5GHz band. ▪High-Band (mmWave, above 24 GHz):Delivers extremely high speeds and very low latency over short distances Technical Details and Channel Bandwidths 5G New Radio (NR) utilizes advanced technologies such as Massive MIMO and network slicing, with specific channel bandwidths per frequency range: ▪Sub-6 GHz (FR1):Up to 100MHz bandwidth per channel. www.techlteworld.com For protocol Testing Course: Reach Us on : +919455439959/+918660602855

2. ▪Millimeter Wave (FR2):Up to 400MHz or even higher, supporting large data streams Band Types and Technical Utility ▪Low-band (<1GHz, e.g., n71, n28):Exceptional for rural, suburban, and deep indoor coverage. Lower frequency improves penetration and range, ideal for IoT and reliability. ▪Mid-band (1–7GHz, e.g., n77, n78, n41):Offers the balance of coverage and capacity; “workhorse” of global 5G. ▪High-band (24–71GHz, e.g., n258, n260):Enables data rates exceeding 1Gbps, micro- latency, and support for advanced use cases, but requires dense site deployments due to path loss and limited penetration Parameter Sub-6 GHz (FR1) mmWave (FR2) Max Bandwidth Subcarrier Spacing Carrier Aggregation Duplexing Modes 100MHz 400MHz (some up to 800–1600MHz in future) 15, 30, 60kHz Yes, up to 1GHz 60, 120kHz Yes, up to 1GHz TDD (almost exclusively) FDD, TDD, SDL, SUL ▪Bandwidth Parts: FR1 supports narrow bandwidth parts for legacy or power-saving devices within a wider overall 5G channel. ▪Coding: 5G uses advanced coding—LDPC and polar codes—to maximize efficiency and robustness. ▪Carrier Aggregation: Up to 16 component carriers can be combined—totaling ~1GHz of contiguous or non-contiguous spectrum. ▪Spectral Efficiency: Guard bands are thinner, and 5G can operate efficiently in mixed, shared, or dynamically reallocated spectrum pools Regional Variations Region Low Bands Mid Bands High Bands (mmWave) Europe 700MHz, 800MHz 3.4–3.8GHz (n78), 2.6GHz 26GHz (24.25–27.5GHz) US 600MHz, 850MHz 2.5GHz, 3.7–4.2GHz, C-Band 28GHz, 39GHz (n260, n261) China 700MHz, 800MHz 2.6GHz, 3.3–3.6GHz, 4.9GHz 24.75–27.5GHz, 37–43.5GHz Japan 700MHz 3.6–4.2GHz, 4.4–4.9GHz 28GHz Korea 700MHz, 800MHz 3.4–3.7GHz 28GHz www.techlteworld.com For protocol Testing Course: Reach Us on : +919455439959/+918660602855

3. Operating bands Below is the table showing NR operating bands www.techlteworld.com For protocol Testing Course: Reach Us on : +919455439959/+918660602855

4. Band Type Low-band Mid-band High-band Coverage Wide Good Localized Penetration Excellent Good Poor Cell Radius Up to 30km+ 1–5km <500m (LoS only) Use Case Rural, suburban, IoT Urban, suburban, capacity Stadiums, hotspots, FWA Unlicensed and Shared Spectrum ▪5G NR-U (Unlicensed):Allows 5G deployment in unlicensed spectra (e.g., 5GHz, 6GHz), supporting enterprise and private networks. ▪Spectrum Sharing (Dynamic Spectrum Access):Enables adaptive allocation— coexistence with Wi-Fi, LTE, satellite, radar, and legacy systems Thearchitecture and performanceof the global 5G ecosystem depend fundamentally on spectrum agility, depth, and careful engineering—balancing coverage, capacity, and technical innovation. As regulators sunset old network generations and innovate with reframed and shared spectrum, and as FR3 and other bands come into play, 5G will continue to expand its reach and capability. The choices made today in policy and engineering will set www.techlteworld.com For protocol Testing Course: Reach Us on : +919455439959/+918660602855

5. the course for everything from rural IoT and smart cities to the fastest immersive experiences in dense urban cores References: ▪3GPP TS 38.101-1: Technical specifications and band definitions for 5G NR Frequency Range 1 (FR1). ▪3GPP TS 38.101-2: Technical specifications and band definitions for 5G NR Frequency Range 2 (FR2). ▪3GPP TS 38.104: Base Station (BS) radio transmission and reception for NR, defining all bands and parameters. ▪3GPP TS 38.133: Requirements for support of radio resource management in NR, including band-specific performance. ▪3GPP TS 38.101-3: Technical specifications for frequency bands above 52.6 GHz (potential future FR3). ▪ITU-R M.1036: Frequency arrangements for implementation of IMT for 5G, providing global harmonization of band allocations. ▪ITU-R M.2083: IMT Vision framework and objectives, including 5G frequency spectrum requirements. ▪ITU-R M.2012: Detailed technical characteristics for IMT-Advanced, reference for NR coexistence. ▪ITU-R M.2290: Spectrum requirements methodology for IMT-2020 (5G). ▪ITU-R M.2100: Technical requirements for IMT-2020 radio interfaces, relevant to 5G NR band usage. www.techlteworld.com For protocol Testing Course: Reach Us on : +919455439959/+918660602855