4G and 5G Frequencies in the UK

Customers often want to know what the different 4G LTE and 5G frequencies are in the UK. There are currently 9 frequency bands used in the UK to deliver 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G.

In general lower frequency bands travel further but provide lower speeds. Whereas higher frequency bands travel less far and provide faster speeds.

The main bands used in the UK by Vodafone, O2, EE and Three are:

800MHz (Band 20)
900MHz (Band 8)
1400MHz SDL (Band 32)
1800MHz (Band 3)
2100MHz (Band 1)
2300Mhz (Band 40)
2600MHz FDD (Band 7)
2600MHz TDD (Band 38)
3500MHz (Band 42) / 3300MHz - 3800MHz - 5G Band n78
nb. As of April 2021 EE have begun trialling 700MHz for additional 5G rollouts.

Frequency	BAND	2G/3G/4G/5G	Network
800MHz	Band 20	4G	Vodafone
900MHz	Band 8	2G & 3G	Vodafone
1400MHz	Band 32	4G	Vodafone
1800MHz	Band 3	2G	Vodafone
2100MHz	Band 1	3G	Vodafone
2600MHz	Band 7 & Band 38	4G	Vodafone
3500MHz	Band 42 / 5G NR Band n78	5G	Vodafone
800MHz	Band 20	4G	O2
900MHz	Band 8	2G & 3G	O2
1800MHz	Band 3	2G & 4G	O2
2100MHz	Band 1	3G & 4G	O2
2300Mhz	Band 40	4G	O2
3500MHz	Band 42 / 5G NR Band n78	5G	O2
800MHz	Band 20	4G	EE
1800MHz	Band 3	3G & 4G	EE
2100MHz	Band 1	3G & 4G	EE
2600MHz	Band 7 & Band 38	4G	EE
3500MHz	Band 42 / 5G NR Band n78	5G	EE
800MHz	Band 20	4G	Three
1400MHz	Band 32	4G	Three
1800MHz	Band 3	4G	Three
2100MHz	Band 1	3G	Three
3500MHz	Band 42 / 5G NR Band n78	5G	Three

Vodafone 5G Spectrum

Vodafone hold a total of 90MHz of spectrum in the 3.5GHz - 3.6GHz band, which they have won at auction until 2041. It is Vodafone's intention to re-farm their 900MHz (Band 8) holdings for addiotional 5G traffic in the future. In April 2021 Vodafone also entered into an agreement with O2 to 'trade 5G Bands' to create more effecient blocks of 5G spectrum. This is in addition to their longstanding mast sharing agreements.

Three 5G Spectrum

Three hold 60MHz of spectrum in the 3.4GHz band and 164MHz in the 3.6GHz - 4GHz band. 60MHz at 3460-3500MHz. 3580-3600MHz and 3600-3680MHz and 3925-4009MHz. The frequencies between 3580-3680MHz are contiguous, meaning they have a 100MHz chunk of frequency with which to provide high capacity for 5G.

O2 5G Spectrum

O2 have 40MHz of the 3.4GHz band dedicated for 5G. O2 also hold 20MHz of ferquency in the 700MHz FDD spectrum band. 723-733MHz & 778-788MHz. O2 have also agreed with Vodafone to trade 5G bands to create more efficient blocks of 5G spectrum.

EE 5G Spectrum

EE have 80MHz of the 3.4-3.8GHz spectrum - 3540-3580MHz (totalling 40MHz) and 3680-3720MHz (totalling 40MHz). Two contiguous 40MHz bands. EE also has 20MHz of paired and another 20MHz of unpaired 700MHz spectrum. 723-733MHz, 778-788MHz and 738-758MHz frequencies.

4G & 5G Routers