Every LTE and 5G band defined by 3GPP, with the bands North American carriers actually use, the Wi-Fi bands and channel rules for the US and Canada, and what is coming next. Built for people choosing cellular routers, modems and antennas.
Band ranges are taken directly from 3GPP Release 20 (TS 36.101 / 38.101-1 / 38.101-2 / 38.101-5 v20.1.0, September 2026 archive). Carrier columns were last reviewed October 12, 2026; where a row says “verify with carrier” the source was a secondary one. Status words (LIVE, SCHEDULED, PROPOSED) are spelled out so nothing depends on colour.
Bands that matter in North America
A router or modem sold for the US or Canada should cover these. Low bands (600–900 MHz) give reach and indoor coverage; mid bands (1.7–4.2 GHz) give speed. Canada and the US differ: Canada uses Band 7 / n7 and n78, the US uses Band 13, Band 48 / n48 (CBRS) and Band 14 (FirstNet).
| Band | Common name | United States | Canada | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5G n77 | C-band 3.3-4.2 GHz (US: 3450-3550 + 3700-3980; Canada: 3450-3980) | Verizon (3.7-3.98 GHz ‘Ultra Wideband’), AT&T (3.45 GHz + C-band), T-Mobile (C-band in places) | Freedom/Vidéotron (3500 + 3800), Bell, Telus (3800 MHz) | the main 5G capacity and home-internet band; antennas must reach 3.98 GHz |
| 5G n41 | BRS/EBS 2500 TDD | T-Mobile (core ‘Ultra Capacity’ layer), former UScellular markets | Rogers, Bell, Telus | mid-band capacity; home internet (FWA) |
| LTE Band 71 | 600 MHz | T-Mobile (plus AT&T after the 2026 EchoStar purchase) | Rogers (NR n71 DSS), Bell, Telus, Freedom | coverage; longest reach, rural and in-building; mostly 5G n71 now |
| 5G n71 | 600 MHz | T-Mobile (‘Extended Range 5G’); AT&T (600 MHz acquired 2026) | Rogers (DSS), Bell, Telus, Freedom | coverage; rural and indoor reach |
| LTE Band 66 | AWS-1/AWS-3 1700/2100 (extended Band 4) | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon | Rogers, Bell, Telus, Vidéotron | capacity; the most important mid-band LTE band in NA |
| 5G n66 | AWS 1700/2100 | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon | Rogers (DSS), Bell, Telus, Vidéotron | mid-band layer (DSS) |
| LTE Band 2 | PCS 1900 | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon | Rogers, Bell, Telus, Vidéotron | capacity; refarmed to 5G (n2) by AT&T/T-Mobile |
| 5G n2 | PCS 1900 | AT&T, T-Mobile | Bell, Telus (DSS) | low/mid-band 5G layer via DSS |
| LTE Band 25 | PCS 1900 + G block | T-Mobile (ex-Sprint); G block also carries T-Satellite | Rogers lists B2/B25 | capacity; superset of Band 2 |
| 5G n25 | PCS 1900 + G block | T-Mobile | — | capacity; G block hosts T-Satellite direct-to-device |
| LTE Band 12 | 700 MHz Lower A/B/C | AT&T, T-Mobile | Rogers, Bell, Telus, Freedom | coverage; rural reach |
| LTE Band 5 | Cellular 850 | AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile (some markets) | Rogers, Bell, Telus | coverage; building penetration |
| 5G n5 | Cellular 850 | AT&T, Verizon | Bell, Telus | coverage layer (DSS) |
| LTE Band 13 | 700 MHz Upper C | Verizon | — | coverage (Verizon’s nationwide LTE layer); absent in Canada |
| LTE Band 14 | 700 MHz Public Safety (FirstNet) | AT&T / FirstNet | Public-safety broadband framework | coverage + public safety priority; moving to 5G n14 |
| 5G n14 | 700 MHz FirstNet | AT&T / FirstNet (5G migration under way) | — | public safety; coverage |
| LTE Band 26 | Extended Cellular 850 | T-Mobile (ex-Sprint) | — | coverage; superset of Band 5 |
| 5G n26 | Extended Cellular 850 | T-Mobile | — | coverage |
| LTE Band 29 | 700 MHz Lower D/E (downlink only) | AT&T | — | extra downlink capacity via carrier aggregation |
| LTE Band 30 | WCS 2300 | AT&T | — | capacity (CA secondary) |
| 5G n30 | WCS 2300 | AT&T | — | capacity |
| LTE Band 48 | CBRS 3550-3700 (US only) | Verizon, private LTE/5G networks, WISPs | — | capacity, fixed wireless, private networks; shared spectrum (SAS) |
| 5G n48 | CBRS 3550-3700 (US only) | Verizon (SA since 2025), private 5G, WISPs | — | capacity, fixed wireless, private networks (shared spectrum) |
| LTE Band 7 | IMT-E 2600 FDD | — | Rogers, Bell, Telus, Vidéotron | capacity (Canada); not used by US carriers |
| 5G n7 | IMT-E 2600 FDD | — | Bell, Telus, Vidéotron (reported) | capacity (Canada) |
| 5G n78 | 3.3-3.8 GHz | — (US deployments use n77) | Rogers (3500 MHz), Bell, Telus | Canadian 3500 MHz 5G; devices should support n77 AND n78 |
| LTE Band 4 | AWS-1 1700/2100 | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon (superset: Band 66) | Rogers, Bell, Telus, Vidéotron, SaskTel | capacity; Band 66 devices cover it |
| LTE Band 17 | 700 MHz Lower B/C | AT&T (legacy label; devices with Band 12 cover it) | Bell, Telus (legacy) | coverage; subset of Band 12 |
| LTE Band 46 | LAA 5 GHz (unlicensed, downlink assist) | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon (urban LAA, declining) | limited | downlink boost in dense areas; not a standalone band |
| 5G n260 | mmWave 39 GHz | Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile (dense urban) | ISED 38 GHz auction planned 2027 | very high capacity, short range; separate module in routers |
| 5G n261 | mmWave 28 GHz | Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile (dense urban) | future | very high capacity, short range |
LTE (4G) bands
All 70 E-UTRA operating bands from TS 36.101 Table 5.5-1. Uplink is phone/router to tower; downlink is tower to you. FDD bands use separate uplink and downlink ranges, TDD bands share one range. “—” under Used in North America means no US or Canadian carrier deploys the band.
| Band | Common name | Uplink (MHz) | Downlink (MHz) | Duplex | Used in North America by | Typical use / region | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IMT 2100 | 1920–1980 | 2110–2170 | FDD | — | Europe, Asia, Oceania, Latin America | |
| 2 | PCS 1900 | 1850–1910 | 1930–1990 | FDD | US: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Canada: Rogers, Bell, Telus, Vidéotron | capacity; refarmed to 5G (n2) by AT&T/T-Mobile | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 3 | DCS 1800 | 1710–1785 | 1805–1880 | FDD | — | Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, Latin America | |
| 4 | AWS-1 1700/2100 | 1710–1755 | 2110–2155 | FDD | US: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon (superset: Band 66) Canada: Rogers, Bell, Telus, Vidéotron, SaskTel | capacity; Band 66 devices cover it | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 5 | Cellular 850 | 824–849 | 869–894 | FDD | US: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile (some markets) Canada: Rogers, Bell, Telus | coverage; building penetration | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 6 | 830–840 | 875–885 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | Not applicable per 3GPP (never deployed). | |
| 7 | IMT-E 2600 FDD | 2500–2570 | 2620–2690 | FDD | US: — Canada: Rogers, Bell, Telus, Vidéotron | capacity (Canada); not used by US carriers | Carrier data: primary (Rogers) / secondary source, verify with carrier (others) |
| 8 | E-GSM 900 | 880–915 | 925–960 | FDD | — | Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, Latin America | |
| 9 | 1749.9–1784.9 | 1844.9–1879.9 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 10 | 1710–1770 | 2110–2170 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 11 | 1427.9–1447.9 | 1475.9–1495.9 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 12 | 700 MHz Lower A/B/C | 699–716 | 729–746 | FDD | US: AT&T, T-Mobile Canada: Rogers, Bell, Telus, Freedom | coverage; rural reach | Carrier data: primary (Rogers) / secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 13 | 700 MHz Upper C | 777–787 | 746–756 | FDD | US: Verizon Canada: — | coverage (Verizon’s nationwide LTE layer); absent in Canada | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 14 | 700 MHz Public Safety (FirstNet) | 788–798 | 758–768 | FDD | US: AT&T / FirstNet Canada: Public-safety broadband framework | coverage + public safety priority; moving to 5G n14 | |
| 17 | 700 MHz Lower B/C | 704–716 | 734–746 | FDD | US: AT&T (legacy label; devices with Band 12 cover it) Canada: Bell, Telus (legacy) | coverage; subset of Band 12 | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 18 | 815–830 | 860–875 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 19 | 830–845 | 875–890 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 20 | Digital Dividend 800 | 832–862 | 791–821 | FDD | — | Europe, Middle East, Africa | |
| 21 | 1447.9–1462.9 | 1495.9–1510.9 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 22 | 3410–3490 | 3510–3590 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 23 | 2000–2020 | 2180–2200 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | Not applicable per 3GPP. | |
| 24 | 1626.5–1660.5 | 1525–1559 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | L-band; downlink limited to 1526-1536 MHz, uplink to 1627.5-1637.5 and 1646.5-1656.5 MHz (3GPP note). | |
| 25 | PCS 1900 + G block | 1850–1915 | 1930–1995 | FDD | US: T-Mobile (ex-Sprint); G block also carries T-Satellite Canada: Rogers lists B2/B25 | capacity; superset of Band 2 | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 26 | Extended Cellular 850 | 814–849 | 859–894 | FDD | US: T-Mobile (ex-Sprint) Canada: — | coverage; superset of Band 5 | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 27 | 807–824 | 852–869 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 28 | APT 700 | 703–748 | 758–803 | FDD | — | Asia-Pacific, Latin America | |
| 29 | 700 MHz Lower D/E (downlink only) | 717–728 | 717–728 | FDD | US: AT&T Canada: — | extra downlink capacity via carrier aggregation | Downlink only (carrier aggregation). Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 30 | WCS 2300 | 2305–2315 | 2350–2360 | FDD | US: AT&T Canada: — | capacity (CA secondary) | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 31 | 452.5–457.5 | 462.5–467.5 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 32 | 1452–1496 | 1452–1496 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | Downlink only (carrier aggregation). | |
| 33 | 1900–1920 | 1900–1920 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 34 | 2010–2025 | 2010–2025 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 35 | 1850–1910 | 1850–1910 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 36 | 1930–1990 | 1930–1990 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 37 | 1910–1930 | 1910–1930 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 38 | IMT-E 2600 TDD | 2570–2620 | 2570–2620 | TDD | — | Europe, Asia, Latin America | |
| 39 | 1880–1920 | 1880–1920 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 40 | 2300 TDD | 2300–2400 | 2300–2400 | TDD | — | Asia, Oceania | |
| 41 | BRS/EBS 2500 TDD | 2496–2690 | 2496–2690 | TDD | US: T-Mobile (ex-Sprint); now mostly 5G n41 Canada: Rogers, Bell, Telus (BRS 2500) | capacity; T-Mobile’s mid-band is n41 today | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 42 | 3500 TDD | 3400–3600 | 3400–3600 | TDD | — | Europe, Asia (largely refarmed to 5G n78) | |
| 43 | 3700 TDD | 3600–3800 | 3600–3800 | TDD | — | Asia (refarmed to 5G) | |
| 44 | 703–803 | 703–803 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 45 | 1447–1467 | 1447–1467 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 46 | LAA 5 GHz (unlicensed, downlink assist) | 5150–5925 | 5150–5925 | TDD | US: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon (urban LAA, declining) Canada: limited | downlink boost in dense areas; not a standalone band | Unlicensed; licensed-assisted access only. Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 47 | 5855–5925 | 5855–5925 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | Unlicensed; vehicle-to-everything (V2X). | |
| 48 | CBRS 3550-3700 (US only) | 3550–3700 | 3550–3700 | TDD | US: Verizon, private LTE/5G networks, WISPs Canada: — | capacity, fixed wireless, private networks; shared spectrum (SAS) | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 49 | 3550–3700 | 3550–3700 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 50 | 1432–1517 | 1432–1517 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 51 | 1427–1432 | 1427–1432 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 52 | 3300–3400 | 3300–3400 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 53 | 2.4 GHz (Globalstar terrestrial) | 2483.5–2495 | 2483.5–2495 | TDD | US: Globalstar / XCOM (private) Canada: — | private networks | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 54 | 1670–1675 | 1670–1675 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 65 | 1920–2010 | 2110–2200 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 66 | AWS-1/AWS-3 1700/2100 (extended Band 4) | 1710–1780 | 2110–2200 | FDD | US: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Canada: Rogers, Bell, Telus, Vidéotron | capacity; the most important mid-band LTE band in NA | Carrier data: primary (Rogers) / secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 67 | 738–758 | 738–758 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | Downlink only. | |
| 68 | 698–728 | 753–783 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 69 | 2570–2620 | 2570–2620 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | Downlink only. | |
| 70 | AWS-4 1700/2000 | 1695–1710 | 1995–2020 | FDD | US: EchoStar/Dish (spectrum sold to SpaceX 2026; network winding down) Canada: — | capacity (Boost legacy); future satellite direct-to-device | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 71 | 600 MHz | 663–698 | 617–652 | FDD | US: T-Mobile (plus AT&T after the 2026 EchoStar purchase) Canada: Rogers (NR n71 DSS), Bell, Telus, Freedom | coverage; longest reach, rural and in-building; mostly 5G n71 now | Carrier data: primary (Rogers) / secondary source, verify with carrier |
| 72 | 451–456 | 461–466 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 73 | 450–455 | 460–465 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 74 | 1427–1470 | 1475–1518 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 75 | 1432–1517 | 1432–1517 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | Downlink only. | |
| 76 | 1427–1432 | 1427–1432 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | Downlink only. | |
| 85 | 698–716 | 728–746 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 87 | 410–415 | 420–425 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 88 | 412–417 | 422–427 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 103 | 787–788 | 757–758 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | NB-IoT only. | |
| 106 | 896–901 | 935–940 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| 111 | 1800–1810 | 1820–1830 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | HD-FDD (half-duplex) target. |
5G NR bands below 7 GHz (FR1)
All 72 NR FR1 operating bands from TS 38.101-1 Table 5.2-1. Most mirror an LTE band of the same number (n2 = Band 2); the 5G-only ones that matter here are n77/n78 (C-band and Canadian 3500/3800 MHz) and n48 (CBRS). SDL = downlink only, SUL = uplink only.
| Band | Common name | Uplink (MHz) | Downlink (MHz) | Duplex | Used in North America by | Typical use / region | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n1 | 1920–1980 | 2110–2170 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n2 | PCS 1900 | 1850–1910 | 1930–1990 | FDD | US: AT&T, T-Mobile Canada: Bell, Telus (DSS) | low/mid-band 5G layer via DSS | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n3 | 1710–1785 | 1805–1880 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n5 | Cellular 850 | 824–849 | 869–894 | FDD | US: AT&T, Verizon Canada: Bell, Telus | coverage layer (DSS) | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n7 | IMT-E 2600 FDD | 2500–2570 | 2620–2690 | FDD | US: — Canada: Bell, Telus, Vidéotron (reported) | capacity (Canada) | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n8 | 880–915 | 925–960 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n12 | 700 MHz Lower | 699–716 | 729–746 | FDD | US: AT&T, T-Mobile Canada: Bell, Telus (reported) | coverage layer | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n13 | 777–787 | 746–756 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n14 | 700 MHz FirstNet | 788–798 | 758–768 | FDD | US: AT&T / FirstNet (5G migration under way) Canada: — | public safety; coverage | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n18 | 815–830 | 860–875 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n20 | 832–862 | 791–821 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n24 | 1626.5–1660.5 | 1525–1559 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n25 | PCS 1900 + G block | 1850–1915 | 1930–1995 | FDD | US: T-Mobile Canada: — | capacity; G block hosts T-Satellite direct-to-device | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n26 | Extended Cellular 850 | 814–849 | 859–894 | FDD | US: T-Mobile Canada: — | coverage | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n28 | 703–748 | 758–803 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n29 | 700 MHz Lower D/E (downlink only) | — | 717–728 | SDL | US: AT&T Canada: — | downlink capacity | Downlink only. Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n30 | WCS 2300 | 2305–2315 | 2350–2360 | FDD | US: AT&T Canada: — | capacity | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n31 | 452.5–457.5 | 462.5–467.5 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n34 | 2010–2025 | 2010–2025 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n38 | 2600 TDD | 2570–2620 | 2570–2620 | TDD | US: — Canada: Bell, Telus (BRS, reported) | capacity | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n39 | 1880–1920 | 1880–1920 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n40 | 2300–2400 | 2300–2400 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n41 | BRS/EBS 2500 TDD | 2496–2690 | 2496–2690 | TDD | US: T-Mobile (core ‘Ultra Capacity’ layer), former UScellular markets Canada: Rogers, Bell, Telus | mid-band capacity; home internet (FWA) | Carrier data: primary (Rogers) / secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n46 | 5150–5925 | 5150–5925 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | Unlicensed (NR-U) 5 GHz. | |
| n47 | 5855–5925 | 5855–5925 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | Unlicensed; V2X. | |
| n48 | CBRS 3550-3700 (US only) | 3550–3700 | 3550–3700 | TDD | US: Verizon (SA since 2025), private 5G, WISPs Canada: — | capacity, fixed wireless, private networks (shared spectrum) | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n50 | 1432–1517 | 1432–1517 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n51 | 1427–1432 | 1427–1432 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n53 | 2483.5–2495 | 2483.5–2495 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n54 | 1670–1675 | 1670–1675 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n65 | 1920–2010 | 2110–2200 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n66 | AWS 1700/2100 | 1710–1780 | 2110–2200 | FDD | US: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Canada: Rogers (DSS), Bell, Telus, Vidéotron | mid-band layer (DSS) | Carrier data: primary (Rogers) / secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n67 | — | 738–758 | SDL | — | Not used in North America | Downlink only. | |
| n68 | 698–728 | 753–783 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n70 | AWS-4 1700/2000 | 1695–1710 | 1995–2020 | FDD | US: Boost/EchoStar legacy (spectrum sold) Canada: — | winding down; future satellite use | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n71 | 600 MHz | 663–698 | 617–652 | FDD | US: T-Mobile (‘Extended Range 5G’); AT&T (600 MHz acquired 2026) Canada: Rogers (DSS), Bell, Telus, Freedom | coverage; rural and indoor reach | Carrier data: primary (Rogers) / secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n72 | 451–456 | 461–466 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n74 | 1427–1470 | 1475–1518 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n75 | — | 1432–1517 | SDL | — | Not used in North America | Downlink only. | |
| n76 | — | 1427–1432 | SDL | — | Not used in North America | Downlink only. | |
| n77 | C-band 3.3-4.2 GHz (US: 3450-3550 + 3700-3980; Canada: 3450-3980) | 3300–4200 | 3300–4200 | TDD | US: Verizon (3.7-3.98 GHz ‘Ultra Wideband’), AT&T (3.45 GHz + C-band), T-Mobile (C-band in places) Canada: Freedom/Vidéotron (3500 + 3800), Bell, Telus (3800 MHz) | the main 5G capacity and home-internet band; antennas must reach 3.98 GHz | In the USA restricted to 3450-3550 and 3700-3980 MHz; in Canada 3450-3650 and 3650-3980 MHz (3GPP note 12). Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier (US) / primary (Freedom) |
| n78 | 3.3-3.8 GHz | 3300–3800 | 3300–3800 | TDD | US: — (US deployments use n77) Canada: Rogers (3500 MHz), Bell, Telus | Canadian 3500 MHz 5G; devices should support n77 AND n78 | Carrier data: primary (Rogers) / inference |
| n79 | 4400–5000 | 4400–5000 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | 4.4-5.0 GHz; China/Japan. | |
| n80 | 1710–1785 | — | SUL | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n81 | 880–915 | — | SUL | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n82 | 832–862 | — | SUL | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n83 | 703–748 | — | SUL | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n84 | 1920–1980 | — | SUL | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n85 | 698–716 | 728–746 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n86 | 1710–1780 | — | SUL | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n87 | 410–415 | 420–425 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n88 | 412–417 | 422–427 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n89 | 824–849 | — | SUL | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n90 | 2496–2690 | 2496–2690 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | Same requirements as n41. | |
| n91 | 832–862 | 1427–1432 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n92 | 832–862 | 1432–1517 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n93 | 880–915 | 1427–1432 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n94 | 880–915 | 1432–1517 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n95 | 2010–2025 | — | SUL | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n96 | 6 GHz NR-U (5925-7125) | 5925–7125 | 5925–7125 | TDD | — | Shared-spectrum use where permitted; no NA carrier deployment | Shared spectrum access (TS 37.213). |
| n97 | 2300–2400 | — | SUL | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n98 | 1880–1920 | — | SUL | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n99 | 1626.5–1660.5 | — | SUL | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n100 | 874.4–880 | 919.4–925 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n101 | 1900–1910 | 1900–1910 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n102 | Lower 6 GHz NR-U | 5925–6425 | 5925–6425 | TDD | — | Shared-spectrum use where permitted | Shared spectrum access. |
| n104 | Upper 6 GHz (6425-7125) | 6425–7125 | 6425–7125 | TDD | — | Under study for mobile (WRC-23); not in NA | |
| n105 | 663–703 | 612–652 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n106 | 896–901 | 935–940 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n109 | 703–733 | 1432–1517 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n110 | 1390–1395 | 1432–1435 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n115 | 1427.9–1462.9 | 1475.9–1510.9 | FDD | — | Not used in North America |
5G millimetre-wave bands (FR2)
Very high capacity over a few hundred metres with line of sight. Useful in stadiums and dense downtowns; not a factor for rural or RV internet. Routers need a separate mmWave module.
| Band | Common name | Uplink (MHz) | Downlink (MHz) | Duplex | Used in North America by | Typical use / region | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n257 | 26500–29500 | 26500–29500 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n258 | mmWave 26 GHz | 24250–27500 | 24250–27500 | TDD | US: limited Canada: ISED auction planned 2027 | dense urban / venues | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n259 | 39500–43500 | 39500–43500 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n260 | mmWave 39 GHz | 37000–40000 | 37000–40000 | TDD | US: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile (dense urban) Canada: ISED 38 GHz auction planned 2027 | very high capacity, short range; separate module in routers | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n261 | mmWave 28 GHz | 27500–28350 | 27500–28350 | TDD | US: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile (dense urban) Canada: future | very high capacity, short range | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n262 | 47200–48200 | 47200–48200 | TDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n263 | 57000–71000 | 57000–71000 | TDD | — | Not used in North America |
Satellite (NTN) bands
3GPP non-terrestrial network bands (TS 38.101-5) used for satellite service to phones and terminals. Direct-to-device texting already works on ordinary phones (T-Mobile T-Satellite since July 2025); it does not use your router or external antenna.
| Band | Common name | Uplink (MHz) | Downlink (MHz) | Duplex | Used in North America by | Typical use / region | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n256 | S-band satellite 2 GHz | 1980–2010 | 2170–2200 | FDD | US: AWS-4/MSS satellite (EchoStar → SpaceX) Canada: — | satellite direct-to-device | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n255 | L-band satellite (Ligado/Inmarsat range) | 1626.5–1660.5 | 1525–1559 | FDD | US: satellite direct-to-device trials Canada: — | satellite messaging/IoT to phones | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n254 | L-band satellite 1.6/2.4 GHz (Globalstar) | 1626.5–2500 | 1626.5–2500 | FDD | US: Apple/Globalstar emergency SOS Canada: same | satellite messaging | Carrier data: secondary source, verify with carrier |
| n253 | 1668–1675 | 1518–1525 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n252 | 2020–2200 | 2020–2200 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n251 | 1626.5–1660.5 | 1518–1559 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n250 | 1668–1675 | 1518–1559 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n248 | 14000–14500 | 10700–12750 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n247 | 13750–14000 | 10700–12750 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n512 | 27500–30000 | 17300–20200 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n511 | 28350–30000 | 17300–20200 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n510 | 27500–28350 | 17300–20200 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n509 | 14000–14500 | 10700–12750 | FDD | — | Not used in North America | ||
| n508 | 13750–14000 | 10700–12750 | FDD | — | Not used in North America |
Wi-Fi bands and channels (US and Canada)
Wi-Fi is unlicensed: anyone may use these bands within the FCC (US) and ISED (Canada) rules. DFS means the radio must listen for radar and move channels. The 6 GHz band is the clean, wide band that makes Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 fast.
| Band | Range (MHz) | Channels | Rules (US / Canada) | Used by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | 2400-2483.5 | 1-11 (12-13 low power only; 14 not legal in the US) | No DFS. Use 1, 6, 11 (20 MHz). Crowded; best for reach and IoT. | Wi-Fi 4, 6, 7 |
| 5 GHz U-NII-1 | 5150-5250 | 36-48 | No DFS. Indoor/outdoor permitted in US since 2014 rules. | Wi-Fi 5, 6, 7 |
| 5 GHz U-NII-2A | 5250-5350 | 52-64 | DFS + TPC (radar avoidance). | Wi-Fi 5, 6, 7 |
| 5 GHz U-NII-2C | 5470-5725 | 100-144 | DFS + TPC. Canada: 5600-5650 MHz opened with stricter DFS testing (RSS-247 Issue 4, 2025; verify). | Wi-Fi 5, 6, 7 |
| 5 GHz U-NII-3 | 5725-5850 | 149-165 | No DFS. Highest power; common for point-to-point links. | Wi-Fi 5, 6, 7 |
| 5.9 GHz U-NII-4 | 5850-5895 | 169-177 | Unlicensed since 2020 FCC plan (US and Canada); 5895-5925 stays C-V2X. DSRC licences end 14 Dec 2026 (US). | Wi-Fi 6, 7 (device support varies) |
| 6 GHz U-NII-5 | 5925-6425 | 1-93 (20 MHz, step 4) | US: Low Power Indoor, Standard Power with AFC, Very Low Power, Geofenced Variable Power (FCC 26-1, Jan 2026). Canada: RSS-248 Issue 2 / DBS-06 (2022), AFC operators designated 2023. | Wi-Fi 6E, 7 |
| 6 GHz U-NII-6 | 6425-6525 | 97-117 | Low Power Indoor and VLP (US); same Canadian framework. | Wi-Fi 6E, 7 |
| 6 GHz U-NII-7 | 6525-6875 | 121-185 | Standard Power with AFC allowed (US). | Wi-Fi 6E, 7 |
| 6 GHz U-NII-8 | 6875-7125 | 189-233 | Low Power Indoor and VLP (US). Upper 6 GHz is contested internationally (UK gave part to mobile in 2026); no US/Canada mobile proposal found as of Oct 2026. | Wi-Fi 6E, 7 |
Wi-Fi generations
| Generation | Standard | Year | Bands | Max width | Modulation | Streams | Peak rate | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 4 | 802.11n | 2009 | 2.4 / 5 GHz | 40 MHz | 64-QAM | 4 | 600 Mbit/s | MIMO, frame aggregation |
| Wi-Fi 5 | 802.11ac | 2013 | 5 GHz | 160 MHz | 256-QAM | 8 | 6.9 Gbit/s | MU-MIMO (downlink), beamforming |
| Wi-Fi 6 | 802.11ax | 2020 (approved 1 Sep 2020) | 2.4 / 5 GHz | 160 MHz | 1024-QAM | 8 | 9.6 Gbit/s | OFDMA, uplink MU-MIMO, Target Wake Time, BSS colouring |
| Wi-Fi 6E | 802.11ax | 2020 (FCC opened 6 GHz 24 Apr 2020) | 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz | 160 MHz | 1024-QAM | 8 | 9.6 Gbit/s | Wi-Fi 6 features in the clean 6 GHz band; Wi-Fi 6E-only clients required |
| Wi-Fi 7 | 802.11be | 2024 (certification Jan 2024; IEEE approval 2024/25) | 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz | 320 MHz (6 GHz) | 4096-QAM | 8 (16 in spec) | ~23 Gbit/s (spec 46) | Multi-Link Operation, preamble puncturing, Multi-RU |
| Wi-Fi 8 | 802.11bn (UHR) | DRAFT — ratification targeted 2028 | 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz (no new spectrum) | 320 MHz | 4096-QAM | 8 | ~23 Gbit/s (same peak as Wi-Fi 7) | Reliability and latency: multi-AP coordination, seamless roaming, better performance under interference |
Wi-Fi 8 status: DRAFT. IEEE 802.11bn (‘Ultra High Reliability’): Draft 1.0 July 2025, Draft 1.3 approved Jan 2026, Draft 2.0 ballot planned mid-2026; IEEE ratification targeted May 2028 (up to Sep 2028). Wi-Fi Alliance certification expected 2027-2028 (sources conflict). No new frequency bands and no higher peak rate than Wi-Fi 7; the gains are reliability, latency and multi-access-point coordination.
What is coming
Status words: LIVE = in service, ADOPTED = rules or approvals final, SCHEDULED = dated, PROPOSED = under consideration, DRAFT = standard not finished, SPECULATIVE = industry talk only.
| Item | Status | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5G-Advanced (3GPP Release 18/19) | LIVE / ADOPTED | Rel-18 devices shipping; Rel-19 completed Dec 2025 | Better uplink, carrier aggregation, RedCap IoT devices, improved positioning. No new consumer bands; expect better speeds on today’s n41/n77 networks. |
| 6G (IMT-2030) | PROPOSED | 3GPP Release 20 studies 2026-27; normative work from Release 21 (~2029); ITU specs ~2030; commercial service ~2030 is an industry target, not a commitment | Candidate new spectrum is 7-24 GHz (‘centimetric’, WRC-27 agenda: 4.4-4.8, 7.125-8.4, 14.8-15.35 GHz). Nothing a 2026 buyer can act on; today’s 600-4200 MHz hardware stays relevant through 2028+. |
| US upper C-band 3.98-4.2 GHz auction | ADOPTED (rules July 2026) | Auction to conclude by ~July 2027; first buildout milestone 30 Dec 2030 | Extends n77 upward. Antennas and modems covering up to 4.2 GHz are future-proof for this. |
| US AWS-3 re-auction (Auction 113) | COMPLETE | 2-23 June 2026 | Adds AWS-3 (Band 66 / n66 range) capacity to carriers; no new device requirement. |
| US 2.7 GHz and further auctions (2025 spectrum law: ≥800 MHz in 1.3-10.5 GHz) | PROPOSED | 2.7 GHz targeted ~2028; others undated | May create new mid-bands later this decade; watch for 3GPP band numbers before buying ‘future-ready’ gear. Wi-Fi industry has raised concerns about pressure on 6 GHz. |
| Canada mmWave auction (26 and 38 GHz) | SCHEDULED | Rules announced May 2026; auction planned 2027 (verify exact date) | First Canadian mmWave (n258 / n260). Dense-urban only; not relevant for rural routers. |
| Canada 3800 MHz deployment | LIVE (partial) | Auction 2023; Freedom/Vidéotron deploying since Apr 2025; others’ status unverified | Needs n77 (3800-3900 MHz is outside n78). Buy devices with both n77 and n78 for Canada. |
| Satellite direct-to-device: T-Mobile T-Satellite (Starlink) | LIVE | Since 23 July 2025 (texting, location, select apps); Starlink V2 planned mid-2027 | Uses T-Mobile’s PCS G block (Band 25 / n25). Works with ordinary phones outdoors; routers and external antennas are not involved (verify band detail). |
| Satellite direct-to-device: AT&T and Verizon with AST SpaceMobile | ADOPTED | FCC commercial authority April 2026; service rollout 2026-27 | Uses the carriers’ own low-band spectrum from orbit. Phone-focused; nothing to buy for routers. |
| SpaceX purchase of EchoStar AWS-4 / H-block / AWS-3 spectrum | ADOPTED (FCC approval May 2026) | Second closing ~Nov 2027 | Future Starlink direct-to-device in n70 / n256-type spectrum; EchoStar’s own 5G network (Boost) winds down onto AT&T. |
| Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) | DRAFT | Ratification targeted 2028; certification 2027-28 | Same bands and peak speed as Wi-Fi 7; the upgrade is reliability and latency. No reason to wait for it. |
What to look for when buying
- Through 2028 only sub-6 GHz matters for cellular internet. Choose modems and antennas that cover 600-4200 MHz (617-960, 1695-2200, 2300-2690 and 3300-4200 MHz), and confirm the antenna is specified up to 3.98-4.2 GHz, not just 3.8 GHz.
- Insist on Band 71/n71 (600 MHz) support for rural reach; many older ‘4G’ antennas start at 698 MHz and miss it.
- For Canada require both n77 and n78; for the US n77 plus n41 and n48 cover every mid-band deployment.
- mmWave (n258/n260/n261) is a dense-city feature and needs a separate module; it is not worth paying for in rural or RV use.
- Treat ‘6G-ready’ or ‘7 GHz’ marketing as meaningless until 3GPP assigns band numbers and carriers hold licences.
Sources and verification
Band tables: 3GPP Release 20 (TS 36.101 / 38.101-1 / 38.101-2 / 38.101-5 v20.1.0, September 2026 archive), parsed directly from the 3GPP specification documents. Carrier usage: carrier support pages where available (Rogers, Freedom, T-Mobile device certification) and otherwise dated secondary sources, each marked “verify with carrier” in the Notes column. Wi-Fi rules: FCC Part 15 6 GHz orders (2020–2026) and ISED RSS-247/RSS-248 summaries. Roadmap items: 3GPP, FCC, ISED and carrier announcements as of October 12, 2026. Found an error? Tell us through the store contact page and we will correct it.