Wireless networking frequency bands

GSM / 2G cellular technology

The first iteration of digital switch cellular networking supports data transfer using Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) or the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).

Key applications: voice calls, SMS, data packet transfer.

2G Frequency

• 850 MHz
• 1900 MHz

3G Cellular Technology

Progression from 2G cellular hardware and networking protocols that increased speed and capacity for data transfer (144 kbit/s). 3G uses Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), W-CDMA, and High-Speed Packet Access (HPSA) technologies.

Key applications:Mobile internet connectivity, multimedia messaging, video calls, mobile TV.

3G frequency bands:

• 850 MHz
• 1900 MHz
• 2100 MHz

4G/LTE Frequency

Successor technologies to 3G. LTE is developed from UMTS and has an uplift in speed (to 300 Mbit/s) that is less than the speeds specified ITU specified 4G cellular networking (up to 1Gbit/s while stationary).

Key applications: mobile broadband internet, video streaming, and VoIP.

4G/LTE frequency bands:

• (B12/13) LTE 700 MHz
• (B28) LTE 700 MHz
• (B20) LTE 800 MHz
• (B5) LTE 850 MHz
• (B8) LTE 900 MHz
• (B4) LTE AWS 1700 MHz
• (B3) LTE 1800 MHz
• (B2) LTE 1900 MHz
• (B1) LTE 2100 MHz
• (B7) LTE 2600 MHz

5G Frequency

Fifth-generation cellular networking is standardized by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and has greater bandwidth and expected download speeds of up to 20 Gbit/s.

Key applications: the deployment is expected to support a range of IoT networking applications as well as expanded mobile broadband internet connectivity.

5G frequency bands:

• Low band (sub 1 GHz): 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz
• Mid band: 1.5 GHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz
• High band: 25–39 GHz

GPS Frequency

The Global Positioning System GPS is a radio-navigation system that uses RF broadcasts from a constellation of satellites in Medium Earth Orbit.

Key applications: location, tracking and navigation for military, industry and consumer use.

Civilian GPS frequency bands

• L1: 1575.42MHz
• L2: 1227.60 MHz
• L5: 1176 MHz

Bluetooth Frequency

Bluetooth standardized as IEEE 802.15.1 is a personal area networking (PAN) technology for low-power short-distance data exchange between devices. It uses unlicensed Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency bands.

Key applications: wireless speakers, wireless headphones

Bluetooth frequency bands:

• 2402 - 2480 MHz or 2400 - 2.4835 MHz

ZigBee Frequency

This is a low-rate wireless personal area technology that is standardized as IEEE 802.15.4. It can be used for low power, long-range transfer of small data packets.

Key applications: home automation, Internet of Things (IoT)

ZigBee frequency bands:

• 902 - 928 MHz
• 868 - 868.6 MHz
• 2.4 GHz (sixteen 5 MHzchannels)

LoRa Frequency

LoRa stands for long-range and a technology that is used to create a low power, wide area networks.

Key applications: Internet of Things (IoT) applications including utility metering, automotive and inventory tracking.

LoRa frequency bands:

• 433 MHz
• 868 MHz (Europe)
• 915 MHz (US and Australia)
• 865 MHz - 867 MHz
• 923 MHz

WiFi

This is a wireless local area networking (LAN) technology, specified by various versions of the IEEE 802.11protocol. It also uses ISM frequency bands.

Key applications: wireless connectivity for consumer electronics, internet access

WiFi frequency bands

• 2.4 GHz: 2401 to 2473 MHz divided into fourteen overlapping 20 MHz wide channels (eleven channels in the US)
• 5 GHz: 25 non-overlapping channels
  • U-NII 1: 5170 - 5250
  • U-NII 2a: 5250 - 5330
  • U-NII 2c: 5490 - 5730
  • U-NII 3: 5735 - 5835

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

This is an Automatic Identification and Data Capture technology used to identify and track marked objects.

Key applications: transport and logistics, warehousing, commercial laundry.

RFID frequency bands:

• LF: 30 to 300 kHz, specifically 120 - 150 kHz.
• HF: 3 to 30 MHz
• UHF: 865–868 MHz (Europe), 902–928 MHz (US)
• SHF: 2.45 GHz, 5.8 GHz