5G frequency bands
Within North America, 5G cellular service is able to operate in several frequency bands. The higher the frequency, the faster the speed; however, the signals are less capable of penetrating buildings, and the cell footprints are much smaller. More cell towers are required when transmitting in the high-band.
As of 2020, service is available in selected cities from each carrier. Verizon offers in-home service in the millimeter wave 28 and 39 GHz bands, and AT&T uses low-band and high-band frequencies. T-Mobile touts its low-band 5G as the first nationwide coverage. See 5G, 5G radiation and millimeter wave.
Frequency Wavelength Band Country (approx. mm) Frequency Range 1 Low-band 600 MHz US, Canada 500mm 700 MHz Mexico 428mm Mid-band (Sub-6) 2.5 GHz US 120mm 3.55-4.2 GHz US 84-71mm 5.9-7.1 GHZ US 51-42mm Frequency Range 2 High-band (Millimeter waves) 24.25-24.45 GHz US 12mm 24.75-25.25 GHz US 12mm 26.5-27.5 GHz Mexico 11mm 27.5-28.35 GHz US, Canada 11mm 37-40 GHz US, Canada 8-7mm 47.2-48.2 GHz US 6mm 64-71 GHz US, Canada 5-4mm BANDS EMPLOYED BY U.S. CARRIERS Sub-6Ghz Frequencies Band Frequency Carrier n2 1900 MHz AT&T, Verizon n5 850 MHz AT&T, Verizon n66 1700 MHz 2100 MHz Verizon n71 600 MHz T-Mobile n41 2500 MHz T-mobile n77 3700 MHZ AT&T, Verizon, T-mobile Millimeter Wave Frequencies Band Frequency Carrier n260 39 GHz AT&T, T-mobile n261 28 GHz T-Mobile, Verizon