The frequency bands of cell phones are a bit like electrical outlets, they change depending on the country you go to. Different countries use different frequency bands for their mobile networks and this can become a problem for those who go to buy a new smartphone with the expectation of making it work in other countries too, where it may not work to connect to the internet.
It therefore becomes not only interesting, but also very useful to know the differences between the cellular frequency bands, especially in this period in which a new standard is launched, 5G, of which we are talking more and more often, both in positive terms such as next revolution of mobile connections, both in negative terms for the possible problems that can lead to health.
READ ALSO: 3G 4G / LTE coverage map for mobile and internet (Tim, 3, Wind, Vodafone)
In general, bands (bandwidth) refer to the range of frequencies that can be contained within a signal. The cellular frequency bands used in Italy and also all over the world (for the most part) are the following:
The coverage of the GSM network (Global System for Mobile Communications) uses the 900 and 1800MHz bands in Italy and in most of the world, except in North America where it uses the 850 and 1900MHz bands. A mobile phone that only supports the GSM frequency may therefore not work in the USA if it is not dual band (i.e. if it does not support the different GSM bands). EDGE is the standard for data transfer over the GSM network, an evolution of the oldest GPRS. When the E icon appears on the mobile phone, then the phone is connected to the internet in GSM, the slowness of which prevents practically anything from modern smartphones.
When the phone is connected to 3G, the H or H + icon appears on the mobile phone, indicating the HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) or HSPA Evolution (HSPA +) data connection.
In the first initial phase, already started this year also in Italy, 5G operates with existing 4G networks and then evolves towards completely independent networks in subsequent versions, with the extension of coverage.
5G uses radio waves or radio frequency (RF) energy to transmit and receive voice and data. In addition to providing faster connections and greater capacity, the main advantage of 5G is the fast response time or, in more technical terms, the lower latency.
Latency is the time it takes for devices to respond to each other over the wireless network. 3G networks have a typical response time of 100 milliseconds, 4G of about 30 milliseconds, with 5G this latency is just 1 millisecond, a practically instant response that opens up to a new world of connected applications. 5G will allow instant connectivity to billions of devices, with any object that can be connected ready to respond without delay.
When a 5G connection is established, the device will connect to the 4G network to provide control signaling and to the 5G network to help provide the fast data connection that adds to the existing 4G capability.
Like other cellular networks, 5G networks use a system of cell sites that divide the territory into sectors and send encoded data via radio waves. Each cell site must be connected to a network, via a wired or wireless connection. 5G networks use a type of encoding called OFDM, which is similar to the encoding used by 4G LTE, with much lower latency and greater flexibility than that. The new system is also designed to operate on much larger channels than 4G. While most 4G channels are 20 MHz, connected together up to 160 MHz at a time, 5G channels can go up to 100 MHz, coming together at 800 MHz at a time.
- Massive machine to machine communications, also called the Internet of Things (IoT), which provides for the connection of billions of devices without large-scale human intervention . This has the potential to revolutionize above all modern industrial processes and applications, including agriculture, production and commercial communications.
- Extremely reliable low latency communications for real-time control of smart home devices, industrial robotics, cars and safety systems, autonomous driving and safer transport networks. Low latency communications open up a new world where remote medical care, procedures and treatments are possible.
- Mobile broadband amplification : the 5G data transmission speed is considerably faster and with greater capacity to keep the world connected. The new applications will include fixed wireless Internet access for homes and greater connectivity for people on the move.When 5G is ready "> Wikipedia.
It therefore becomes not only interesting, but also very useful to know the differences between the cellular frequency bands, especially in this period in which a new standard is launched, 5G, of which we are talking more and more often, both in positive terms such as next revolution of mobile connections, both in negative terms for the possible problems that can lead to health.
READ ALSO: 3G 4G / LTE coverage map for mobile and internet (Tim, 3, Wind, Vodafone)
Cellular frequency bands
Before seeing the most used frequency bands in Italy and in the world, let 's see what frequency means (in super simple terms). Frequency is defined as the number of cycles of a repetitive event occurring in a defined time unit. as repetitive events we can think, for example, of the vibrations of a medium like water or air, which occur quickly enough to produce a wave. Each wave is measured in one second by the hertz unit of measurement: the higher the number of vibrations, the higher the hertz. Taking sound waves as an example, we can say that if the note played with a string instrument vibrates at about 440 Hz it means that it vibrates 440 times per second. The transmission between a mobile phone and the operator's repeaters is made by electromagnetic waves (or electromagnetic radiation) that operate in different bands between 300 GHz and 3 kHz, a frequency low enough to remain invisible.In general, bands (bandwidth) refer to the range of frequencies that can be contained within a signal. The cellular frequency bands used in Italy and also all over the world (for the most part) are the following:
2G (GSM, CDMA, EDGE)
2G is the bandwidth supported by all telephone operators.The coverage of the GSM network (Global System for Mobile Communications) uses the 900 and 1800MHz bands in Italy and in most of the world, except in North America where it uses the 850 and 1900MHz bands. A mobile phone that only supports the GSM frequency may therefore not work in the USA if it is not dual band (i.e. if it does not support the different GSM bands). EDGE is the standard for data transfer over the GSM network, an evolution of the oldest GPRS. When the E icon appears on the mobile phone, then the phone is connected to the internet in GSM, the slowness of which prevents practically anything from modern smartphones.
3G (UMTS, HSPA, HSPA +)
3G was the first revolution in cellular frequencies, with a standard that uses the 2100 Mhz frequency worldwide. Thanks to 3G and HSPA and HSPA + connections, there has been a significant increase in data transmission speed, allowing not only to surf the internet, but also to watch streaming video, make video calls and download applications and photos.When the phone is connected to 3G, the H or H + icon appears on the mobile phone, indicating the HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) or HSPA Evolution (HSPA +) data connection.
4G (LTE)
4G is now widespread in almost all the world, with however different frequency bands: 800 Mhz, 1800 Mhz, 2600 Mhz and 2100 Mhz. The maximum data transmission speed of the LTE ( Long Term Evolution ) connection is for downloading 12.5 MBytes / sec and for Upload 7.5 MBytes / sec which is also a lot for viewing videos in HD.What is 5G
5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks, a significant evolution of today's 4G LTE networks. 5G has been designed to satisfy the enormous growth of data connection of today's modern society, above all to favor fast connections with smart devices of all kinds and not only therefore for smartphones and PCs.In the first initial phase, already started this year also in Italy, 5G operates with existing 4G networks and then evolves towards completely independent networks in subsequent versions, with the extension of coverage.
5G uses radio waves or radio frequency (RF) energy to transmit and receive voice and data. In addition to providing faster connections and greater capacity, the main advantage of 5G is the fast response time or, in more technical terms, the lower latency.
Latency is the time it takes for devices to respond to each other over the wireless network. 3G networks have a typical response time of 100 milliseconds, 4G of about 30 milliseconds, with 5G this latency is just 1 millisecond, a practically instant response that opens up to a new world of connected applications. 5G will allow instant connectivity to billions of devices, with any object that can be connected ready to respond without delay.
When a 5G connection is established, the device will connect to the 4G network to provide control signaling and to the 5G network to help provide the fast data connection that adds to the existing 4G capability.
Like other cellular networks, 5G networks use a system of cell sites that divide the territory into sectors and send encoded data via radio waves. Each cell site must be connected to a network, via a wired or wireless connection. 5G networks use a type of encoding called OFDM, which is similar to the encoding used by 4G LTE, with much lower latency and greater flexibility than that. The new system is also designed to operate on much larger channels than 4G. While most 4G channels are 20 MHz, connected together up to 160 MHz at a time, 5G channels can go up to 100 MHz, coming together at 800 MHz at a time.
Use of 5G
There are three main categories of use cases for 5G:- Massive machine to machine communications, also called the Internet of Things (IoT), which provides for the connection of billions of devices without large-scale human intervention . This has the potential to revolutionize above all modern industrial processes and applications, including agriculture, production and commercial communications.
- Extremely reliable low latency communications for real-time control of smart home devices, industrial robotics, cars and safety systems, autonomous driving and safer transport networks. Low latency communications open up a new world where remote medical care, procedures and treatments are possible.
- Mobile broadband amplification : the 5G data transmission speed is considerably faster and with greater capacity to keep the world connected. The new applications will include fixed wireless Internet access for homes and greater connectivity for people on the move.
