Information relating to the major bands used in RF communications can be found below. Each band is defined by the country's spectrum regulator and while each regulator works to harmonise bands between countries through the work of the ITU, the specifics of each RF band still differ between countries.
Within each allocation a band plan is defined which sets out the conditions in which users can operate radiofrequency transmitters. These conditions include:
- Licencing and coordination requirements
- Channel sizing, guard bands, and occupancy
- Power and spectral limits
- Minimum antenna sizing
- Geographic restrictions and embargoes
Select a band below to learn more.
| Band | Description |
|---|---|
| 900 MHz | The 900 MHz ISM band, as defined by the ITU Radio Regulations, is a part of the radio spectrum that can be used without a licence in many countries for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) purposes. This band, ranging from 902 to 928 MHz, is designated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for these unlicensed uses in ITU countries... |
| 2.4 GHz | The 2.4 GHz ISM band is a portion of the radio spectrum, defined by the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) Radio Regulations, for Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) purposes. This band, specifically ranging from 2400 to 2500 MHz, is globally available for unlicensed use, making it a popular choice for short-range wireless... |
| 5 GHz | The 5 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band is a portion of the radio spectrum that is designated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for unlicensed use. The ITU Radio Regulations define this band as ranging from 5725 MHz to 5875 MHz. This band is commonly used for wireless networking applications, such as Wi-Fi, due to... |
| 6 GHz | The 6 GHz band, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations, is a portion of the radio spectrum that falls within the frequency range of 5.925 to 6.425 GHz. The 6 GHz band is globally harmonised through the International Telecommunication Union's Recommendation ITU-R F.383 for microwave technology. However, the... |
| 6.7 GHz | The 6.7 GHz "Upper-6 GHz" ITU wireless band, as defined by the ITU Radio Regulations ITU-R F.384, is a specific frequency band allocated for fixed service operations. ITU-R F.384 defines radio-frequency channel arrangements for medium- and high-capacity digital fixed wireless systems operating in the 6425 to 7125 MHz band.. These systems are... |
| 7 GHz | The 7 GHz band is globally harmonised through the International Telecommunication Union's Recommendation ITU-R F.385 for microwave technology. ITU-R F.383 defines radio-frequency channel arrangements for fixed wireless systems operating in the 7110 to 7900 MHz band. Each country develops its own specific operating conditions based on the global ITU... |
| 8 GHz | The 8 GHz band, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations ITU-R F.386, is a portion of the radio spectrum that falls within the frequency range of 7.725 to 8.5 GHz. This band is categorised under the super high frequency (SHF) band, which is often used for satellite communication, microwave links, and radar... |
| 10 GHz | The 10 GHz band, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations ITU-R F.747, is a frequency band that falls within the microwave section of the electromagnetic spectrum. It spans from 10.0 to 10.68 GHz and is primarily utilised for terrestrial microwave communication links. The allocation of this band is subject to... |
| 11 GHz | The 11 GHz band, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations ITU-R F.387, is a segment of the radio spectrum that is utilised for wireless communication. This band, which ranges from 10.7 GHz to 11.7 GHz, is part of the super high frequency (SHF) range, also known as the microwave band. The 11 GHz band is... |
| 13 GHz | The 13 GHz ITU wireless band, as defined by the ITU Radio Regulations ITU-R F.497, is a frequency band that falls within the range of 12.75 to 13.25 GHz. This band is categorised under the super high frequency (SHF) range and is primarily used for satellite communication, point-to-point radio links and as a radar frequency band. The allocation of... |
| 15 GHz | The 15 GHz band, as defined by the ITU Radio Regulations ITU-R F.636, is a frequency band that falls within the microwave section of the electromagnetic spectrum. This band operates from 14.4 to 15.35 GHz and is specifically designated for fixed wireless systems, which are commonly used for broadband data transmission. The 15 GHz band is... |
| 18 GHz | The 18 GHz ITU wireless band, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations ITU-R F.595, is a frequency band that falls within the range of 17.7 to 19.7 GHz. This band is categorised under the super high frequency (SHF) range of the radio spectrum, often used for high-capacity satellite communication, fixed and... |
| 22 GHz | The 22 GHz ITU wireless band, as defined by the ITU Radio Regulations ITU-R F.637, is a specific frequency band within the radio spectrum used for microwave transmission. Sitting within the K-band, the band ranges from 21.2 GHz to 23.6 GHz. It is utilised for various applications, including satellite communication, radar systems, and data... |
| 24 GHz | The 24 GHz band, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band, is a segment of the radio spectrum that can be used for any application that falls under ISM services. This band ranges from 24.0 to 24.25 GHz and is reserved globally for the use of ISM applications. It is... |
| 28 GHz | The 28 GHz band, as defined by the ITU Radio Regulations ITU-R F.748, is a frequency band in the microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is often used for wireless communication systems, including satellite and terrestrial networks. This band, spanning from 24.25 GHz to 29.5 GHz, is designated for fixed and mobile services. However, it... |