Which new frequency bands will support 5G?

5G networks are expected to use many bands that were previously allocated to – albeit not necessarily used by – 4G networks.

But the next generation of wireless technology will also open up completely new frequencies for mobile networks.

Many of these potential new 5G bands are in mmWaves where bandwidth is abundant but propagation is poor. Others, such as the 4.4 – 5 GHz and 6 GHz ranges, offer mid-band propagation with high-band capacity, but also have their own barriers to deployment.

Many of these bands are unlikely to see 5G deployments in the short- or medium-term, and some may never be used at all.

Our newly updated profiles of current and potential mobile bands provides insights into these possible 5G bands. These are available below and here.