What is the difference between FDD and TDD?

FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) uses separate uplink and downlink frequency blocks at the same time. TDD (Time Division Duplex) uses one shared block, alternating uplink and downlink in time slots. TDD suits asymmetric data, FDD suits low-latency voice.

Why do 5G bands start with the letter n?

3GPP prefixes 5G New Radio band numbers with n (for example n78, n258) to distinguish them from LTE bands. Some 5G bands reuse the same frequencies as existing LTE bands but in the NR numbering scheme.

Do bands differ between regions?

Yes. Spectrum allocation is set by national regulators, so a phone sold in Europe may lack the bands a US carrier uses. Band 71 is US-only, band 20 (800 MHz) is mainly European, and band 28 (700 MHz APT) covers Asia-Pacific and parts of Europe.

What is a band's centre frequency used for?

The frequency range determines propagation: lower bands (700-900 MHz) travel far and penetrate buildings well, while higher bands (2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz) carry more capacity over shorter range. Carriers layer them for coverage plus capacity.

Is this lookup done online?

No. The full band table and search run entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server.

GSM / LTE Band Reference

Email me this result

Get this tool's output sent to your inbox, plus one useful tool a week. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

3GPP cellular band reference

Every LTE and 5G connection runs on a numbered frequency band defined by 3GPP. The band number fixes the uplink and downlink frequency ranges and the duplex mode, which together decide coverage, capacity and which devices can roam onto a network. This reference lists the common bands with their ranges and a live search.

How it works

Each band defines an uplink range (device to tower) and a downlink range (tower to device). In FDD bands the two ranges are different blocks of spectrum used simultaneously. In TDD bands a single range is shared and the radio alternates direction in time. Lower-frequency bands propagate further and penetrate walls; higher-frequency bands carry more data but over shorter distances. The search filters by band number, the n-prefixed 5G name, or any frequency in MHz that falls inside a band’s range.

Tips and examples

Band 3 (1800 MHz) is the global LTE workhorse. Band 20 (800 MHz) is Europe’s coverage layer, while band 71 (600 MHz) is US-only. For 5G, n78 (3.3-3.8 GHz TDD) is the dominant mid-band worldwide, and n258/n260 are mmWave bands above 24 GHz. When checking device compatibility, match both the band number and the duplex mode — a phone missing band 20 will have poor rural coverage in Europe even if it shows full bars in cities.