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LTE UK Bands, Who owns what Band

darrengf
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The UK and the World have become a very confusing place regarding LTE Frequencies / Bands and who owns what.

 

People ask many time, If I buy a phone in China or the US, will it work ok in the UK.

 

No I cant answer regarding ever phone, But Ive put a list together at the best of what I can find and my knowledge to help where possible.

 

This list is a accurate I can make it, but some bits may still be wrong, but it will still give you the ins and outs.

 

Its not to promote any Network etc, just to give you an understanding of who owns what etc.

 

Before you buy any phone etc, you need to do your own research.  But Just to let you know, USA phones and phones from China and many other Countries do not all have the same LTE Bands as EU / UK does, Don’t assume because they look the same that they are.

 

All The information found is of the internet

 

LTE BANDS UK

1 - 2100 MHz
3 - 1800 MHz
7 - 2600 MHz
8 - 900 MHz
20 - 800 DD
32 - 1500 MHz Downlink only and must be used with other 4G Bands to work
38 - 2600 TD* Vodafone Uk use this to connect Mobile Mast’s using a Microwave Link


The frequencies used by the major UK networks are listed below:

 

B8F45E65-7061-4856-BB9B-1B9F110425DB.jpeg

 

Frequency converted into bands:
800MHz (Band 20)
900MHz (Band 😎
1500MHz (Band 32) This is a Download Link Only and must be used wit Other 4G Bands. (** Also Unsure if Vodafone UK use it at present)
1800MHz (Band 3)
2100MHz (Band 1)
2600MHz (Band 7)
2600MHz (Band 38*) This is used only to connect Mobile Mast’s using a Microwave Link

 

O2 own the 4G coverage 800MHz pair obligation

 

2017 Will see another Auction of 2300MHz Band 40 and 3400MHz Band 42

This is how Ofcom currently see who owns what regardless of 2G, 3G, 4G

2FCD3BA8-142A-48E5-B7F8-727810F9453D.jpeg


2020 Will see another Auction of 700MHz (Band 28 I Believe)

 

Three UK now has more spectrum. After acquiring UK Broadband in February, the operator Three has access to 40 MHz of mobile spectrum in the 3.4GHz band 42 (Can’t be used until 2020), plus 84 MHz in the 3.6 to 3.8GHz band 43

 

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2017/ofcom-sets-rules-for-mobile-sp...

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks_in_Europe

 

I really hope people find this helpful and useful,

 

But like I said, Use this with Caution as things change fast. I take no responsibility for wrong information or you purchasing the wrong device etc.

 

 

 

5 Comments
Bambino
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From the Home Page of the link below. There is no advertising on the site. Explains everything the above post tries to:

 

"Have you ever asked the question, “Will my mobile phone work with a certain mobile carrier?” Perhaps you're traveling to another country and want to make sure your smartphone works there. You could even be selling a cellular phone and need a website to point people to when they ask if the phone works on a certain carrier. WillMyPhoneWork.net can help you find the answer you're looking for.

All you need to do is select a mobile device (cellphone, smartphone, or tablet) from the drop-down lists below. Then, choose a mobile carrier network that you would like to use the device on.

It’s that SIMPLE! Our goal is to be the most accurate and definitive source for device compatibility information."

 

https://willmyphonework.net/

jonsie
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Hopefully clears up some confusion @darrengf but as you say, people still need to be wary about buying phones from overseas. When I bought my J7 Prime in Thailand 🇹🇭 I wasn't too bothered researching as I had no intention of coming back to the UK 🇬🇧. Anyway, unforeseen circumstances meant I had to come back suddenly. Luckily the phone works on O2 and all the other networks.

Useful link @Bambino 😀

Anonymous
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 thank you @Bambino ... very neatly expressed quote & link

darrengf
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Well it was great to see o2 win the whole of the 40MHz 2300 MHz Band 40 Specrrum.

 

this will allow o2 to now to have a total on 75MHz 4G spectrum available to use.

 

o2 are just waiting on a date to be allowed to use it, but it won’t be too long.

 

o2 have also said they will switch London first and then others will follow. on with in 24 hours of being allowed to use 2300MHz, which would indicate there already ready and waiting to use it,

 

http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/2018/04/10/three-claims-largest-spectrum-5guk/

4BE1D586-0665-4A71-A2CD-79F53670AED2.jpeg

 

 

 

Also so now you can see the available Spectrum that each network hold.

 

the Purple boxes is the 4G spectrum that each network currently has and available from 2020 to use

 

Note Three’s total now stands at 144MHz following the acquisition of UK Broadband for £250 million last year, which gained the operator 124MHz from the 3.6GHz and 3.8GHz bands

 

all operates in the Auction just gone we’re bidding on 3400MHz frequency which is useable from 2020.

 

there will then be another auction in 2020 for the 700MHz frequency to use as 4G as well

A4D2F735-FCDC-40B5-9470-D5819E2471EC.jpeg

AstronautAbort
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Thank you, 

 

Useful information. I have bought a Google Pixel (1st model) without knowing it was a US version. This worried me, mainly due to thinking there will be network connectivity issues.

 

I found some more some useful info here too;

https://willmyphonework.net/

https://www.4g.co.uk/4g-frequencies-uk-need-know/

https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-phone/how-tell-whether-phone-is-supported-by-your-networ... 

 

I'm not sure whether i will return the phone or not becuase i still feel there may be some network connectivity issues at times.... Maybe i'll just go with a UK (International version) to be on the safe side.  grin

 

https://www.techwalls.com/google-pixel-pixel-xl-model-number-differences/

https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/5fw02w/buying_pixel_in_the_us_will_it_work_in_the_uk/