5G NR Frequency Range & Band Classifier

The 5G NR Frequency Range & Band Classifier helps you classify a 5G carrier frequency according to its frequency range and determine the corresponding wavelength, supported sub-carrier spacing (SCS), and duplex modes.

Enter a carrier frequency from 410 MHz to 71,000 MHz. The calculator identifies whether the frequency falls within FR1, FR2-1, or FR2-2, or whether it falls in the spectrum gap between 7.125 GHz and 24.25 GHz.

This makes the tool useful for engineers, RF designers, telecom professionals, students, and anyone working with 5G New Radio frequency planning.

What Is 5G NR Frequency Range Classification?

5G NR, or 5G New Radio, uses a wide range of radio frequencies. Rather than treating all 5G frequencies as one continuous spectrum, 3GPP defines frequency ranges that help organize NR deployments and their associated radio characteristics.

The major ranges used by this calculator are:

The frequency range affects characteristics such as wavelength, propagation behavior, available SCS options, and typical network deployment strategies.

How to Use the 5G NR Frequency Calculator

Using the calculator is straightforward:

1. Enter the carrier frequency in MHz.
2. Make sure the value is between 410 MHz and 71,000 MHz.
3. The calculator converts the frequency into GHz.
4. It calculates the corresponding wavelength.
5. It identifies the applicable 3GPP frequency classification.
6. It displays supported SCS values.
7. It displays the associated duplex-mode classification used by the calculator.

Example: 3500 MHz

Suppose you enter:

Frequency = 3500 MHz

The calculator returns approximately:

• Frequency: 3500 MHz
• Frequency: 3.500 GHz
• Wavelength: 85.65 mm
• Classification: FR1 C-Band / Upper Mid-Band (3–7.125 GHz)
• Supported SCS: 15, 30, 60 kHz
• Duplex modes: FDD, TDD, SUL, SDL

This is representative of the upper portion of the FR1 range and is commonly associated with mid-band 5G deployments.

Example: 28,000 MHz

For a carrier frequency of 28,000 MHz:

• Frequency: 28.000 GHz
• Wavelength: approximately 10.71 mm
• Classification: FR2-1 mmWave
• Supported SCS: 60, 120, 240 kHz
• Duplex mode: TDD Only

The much shorter wavelength is one of the defining characteristics of mmWave operation.

5G NR FR1

FR1 covers frequencies from 410 MHz through 7,125 MHz in this calculator.

FR1 contains a mixture of low-band, traditional mid-band, and upper-mid-band spectrum. These frequencies generally offer more favorable propagation and coverage characteristics than mmWave frequencies, although the actual coverage depends on frequency, transmit power, antenna configuration, environment, bandwidth, and deployment architecture.

The calculator further divides FR1 into three practical categories.

FR1 Low-Band: Below 1 GHz

Frequencies from 410 MHz to below 1 GHz are classified as:

FR1 Low-Band (<1 GHz)

Lower frequencies have longer wavelengths and generally propagate farther and penetrate obstacles more effectively than higher-frequency signals under comparable conditions.

Low-band 5G can therefore be useful when broad coverage is more important than extremely large channel bandwidth.

FR1 Mid-Band Legacy: 1–3 GHz

Frequencies from 1 GHz to below 3 GHz are classified as:

FR1 Mid-Band Legacy (1–3 GHz)

This section includes frequencies that have historically been important for cellular networks. It provides a compromise between coverage and available capacity.

FR1 C-Band / Upper Mid-Band: 3–7.125 GHz

Frequencies from 3 GHz through 7.125 GHz are classified as:

FR1 C-Band / Upper Mid-Band (3–7.125 GHz)

Upper-mid-band frequencies are particularly important for high-capacity 5G deployments because they can provide more spectrum while remaining below the traditional mmWave ranges.

For example, a frequency of 3500 MHz falls into this classification.

5G NR FR2-1

The calculator classifies frequencies from 24.25 GHz through 52.6 GHz as:

FR2-1 mmWave (24.25–52.6 GHz)

This is the traditional 5G mmWave portion of the NR frequency ranges.

At these frequencies, wavelengths are only a few millimeters to around one centimeter. That enables highly compact antenna elements and large antenna arrays, but propagation is generally more sensitive to blockage and other environmental factors than lower-frequency cellular spectrum.

The calculator associates FR2-1 with:

60, 120, and 240 kHz SCS

and:

TDD Only

5G NR FR2-2

The calculator classifies frequencies above 52.6 GHz through 71 GHz as:

FR2-2 Extended mmWave (52.6–71.0 GHz)

FR2-2 extends NR operation into higher-frequency spectrum.

The calculator associates this range with:

120, 480, and 960 kHz SCS

and displays:

TDD / Unlicensed (e.g., n263)

When working with a specific 3GPP band, always verify the applicable band definition and operating conditions rather than assuming that every frequency inside the numerical range has identical regulatory or deployment characteristics.

What Happens Between 7.125 GHz and 24.25 GHz?

One important feature of the calculator is that it does not force every frequency into FR1 or FR2.

Frequencies above 7,125 MHz and below 24,250 MHz are returned as:

Spectrum Gap (Unassigned 3GPP 5G NR Range)

The calculator displays:

• 3GPP Designation: Spectrum Gap
• SCS: N/A
• Duplex Modes: N/A

This distinction is important because a numerical frequency falling between two defined ranges does not automatically become an operational 5G NR frequency band.

5G NR Wavelength Calculation

The calculator also determines the wavelength corresponding to the entered carrier frequency.

The fundamental equation is:

λ = c / f

Where:

• λ = wavelength in meters
• c = speed of light, approximately 299,792,458 m/s
• f = frequency in Hz

Because the calculator accepts MHz, the input is converted to Hz before the wavelength calculation.

Example: 3500 MHz

First convert:

3500 MHz = 3.5 × 10⁹ Hz

Then:

λ = 299,792,458 / 3.5 × 10⁹

The resulting wavelength is approximately:

0.08565 m

or:

85.65 mm

This demonstrates the inverse relationship between frequency and wavelength: as frequency increases, wavelength decreases.

Frequency and Wavelength Relationship

Frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional.

A lower-frequency signal has a longer wavelength, while a higher-frequency signal has a shorter wavelength.

For example:

These values are calculated using the speed of light and represent free-space wavelength.

What Is Sub-Carrier Spacing in 5G NR?

Sub-carrier spacing (SCS) describes the frequency separation between adjacent OFDM subcarriers.

5G NR supports multiple SCS values so that the physical layer can be adapted to different operating frequencies and deployment requirements.

The calculator provides SCS values based on the frequency classification.

For the ranges represented by this calculator:

• FR1: 15, 30, 60 kHz
• FR2-1: 60, 120, 240 kHz
• FR2-2: 120, 480, 960 kHz

SCS selection is not determined by frequency alone in every practical deployment. The applicable numerology also depends on the relevant 3GPP specifications, channel configuration, and operating band.

Why Does 5G NR Use Different SCS Values?

Different SCS values provide different OFDM symbol durations and cyclic-prefix relationships.

Higher SCS generally corresponds to shorter OFDM symbols. This can be advantageous in scenarios where lower latency and reduced sensitivity to certain channel effects are important.

At higher carrier frequencies, larger SCS values become increasingly relevant to the NR physical-layer design.

The key relationship between numerology and SCS is commonly expressed as:

SCS = 15 × 2ᵘ kHz

where μ represents the NR numerology index.

For example:

• μ = 0 → 15 kHz
• μ = 1 → 30 kHz
• μ = 2 → 60 kHz
• μ = 3 → 120 kHz
• μ = 4 → 240 kHz

Higher numerology indices therefore produce larger sub-carrier spacing.

5G NR Duplex Modes

The calculator also provides a duplex-mode classification.

Depending on the frequency range, the result can include:

• FDD
• TDD
• SUL
• SDL

FDD

Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) uses separate frequency resources for uplink and downlink.

This approach allows simultaneous uplink and downlink transmission on paired spectrum.

TDD

Time Division Duplex (TDD) uses the same frequency resource but separates uplink and downlink transmission in time.

TDD is particularly important for many mid-band and mmWave 5G deployments.

SUL

Supplementary Uplink (SUL) provides an additional uplink carrier that can complement another NR carrier.

It can be useful for improving uplink coverage or capacity under appropriate network configurations.

SDL

Supplementary Downlink (SDL) provides additional downlink spectrum without requiring a conventional paired uplink carrier.

The availability and use of these modes depend on specific band definitions and network configurations.

FR1 vs FR2-1 vs FR2-2

The easiest way to understand the main classifications is to compare their frequency and wavelength characteristics.

The most significant physical difference is wavelength. Moving from hundreds of megahertz to tens of gigahertz dramatically reduces wavelength.

Why Frequency Classification Matters

Frequency classification is useful during several stages of wireless system design.

Network Planning

Engineers can quickly determine which broad NR frequency range a carrier belongs to.

RF Design

Wavelength is fundamental to antenna dimensions, array spacing, propagation analysis, and electromagnetic design.

Antenna Engineering

Higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths, allowing antenna elements and arrays to become physically smaller.

5G Performance Analysis

Frequency range provides useful context when evaluating coverage, capacity, propagation, and expected deployment characteristics.

Education and Research

The calculator provides a quick way to connect carrier frequency with wavelength, NR frequency ranges, SCS, and duplex operation.

Common 5G NR Frequency Examples

700 MHz

A 700 MHz carrier is classified as:

FR1 Low-Band (<1 GHz)

Its approximate wavelength is:

428.27 mm

This illustrates why lower cellular frequencies have comparatively long wavelengths.

1800 MHz

An 1800 MHz carrier is classified as:

FR1 Mid-Band Legacy (1–3 GHz)

Its wavelength is approximately:

166.55 mm

3500 MHz

A 3500 MHz carrier falls into:

FR1 C-Band / Upper Mid-Band

Its wavelength is approximately:

85.65 mm

28 GHz

A 28 GHz carrier falls into:

FR2-1 mmWave

Its wavelength is approximately:

10.71 mm

60 GHz

A 60 GHz carrier falls into:

FR2-2 Extended mmWave

Its wavelength is approximately:

5.00 mm

Frequently Asked Questions

What frequency range does FR1 cover?

The calculator uses 410 MHz to 7,125 MHz for FR1.

What frequency range is FR2-1?

FR2-1 is represented as 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz.

What frequency range is FR2-2?

FR2-2 is represented as 52.6 GHz to 71 GHz.

Is every 5G frequency below 7 GHz classified as FR1?

Within the calculator's supported range, frequencies from 410 MHz through 7,125 MHz are classified as FR1.

What happens if I enter 10 GHz?

A 10 GHz input falls between 7.125 GHz and 24.25 GHz. The calculator therefore returns Spectrum Gap (Unassigned 3GPP 5G NR Range) rather than FR1 or FR2.

What is the wavelength of a 3.5 GHz 5G signal?

Using the speed-of-light relationship, a 3.5 GHz carrier has a free-space wavelength of approximately 85.65 mm.

What SCS values are associated with FR1 in this calculator?

The calculator displays 15, 30, and 60 kHz for FR1.

What SCS values are associated with FR2-1?

The calculator displays 60, 120, and 240 kHz for FR2-1.

What SCS values are associated with FR2-2?

The calculator displays 120, 480, and 960 kHz for FR2-2.

Can I use this calculator to identify a specific 5G NR band such as n78 or n258?

No. This calculator classifies the carrier frequency range, rather than identifying an individual NR operating band. Specific NR band identification requires additional information about the frequency range, band designation, uplink/downlink configuration, and applicable 3GPP definitions.

Important Notes About the Calculator

The results should be interpreted as a frequency-range classification tool, not as a complete 5G NR band-planning or regulatory tool.

In particular:

• Frequency range does not by itself determine a specific NR band.
• Actual network operation depends on the applicable 3GPP band and configuration.
• Regulatory spectrum allocations vary by country and region.
• Supported SCS depends on the relevant NR configuration and specifications.
• Calculated wavelength is a free-space wavelength.
• Real-world propagation depends on the environment and system design.
• The calculator's FR1/FR2 labels follow the ranges implemented in its calculation logic.

For engineering, deployment, or regulatory decisions, verify the relevant 3GPP specifications and local spectrum regulations.

Summary

The 5G NR Frequency Range & Band Classifier provides a fast way to understand where a carrier frequency fits within the calculator's supported 5G NR frequency ranges.

Enter a frequency between 410 MHz and 71,000 MHz to obtain its:

• Frequency in MHz and GHz
• Free-space wavelength in meters and millimeters
• FR1, FR2-1, or FR2-2 classification
• Practical FR1 sub-classification
• Supported SCS values
• Duplex-mode classification

The core relationship is simple:

λ = c / f

As carrier frequency increases, wavelength decreases. This fundamental relationship helps explain many of the physical differences between low-band, mid-band, and mmWave 5G systems.