Within North America, 5G cellular service is able to operate in several frequency bands. The higher the frequency, the faster the speed; however, the signals are less capable of penetrating buildings, and the cell footprints are much smaller. More cell towers are required when transmitting in the high-band.
As of 2020, service is available in selected cities from each carrier. Verizon offers in-home service in the millimeter wave 28 and 39 GHz bands, and AT&T uses low-band and high-band frequencies. T-Mobile touts its low-band 5G as the first nationwide coverage. See
5G,
5G radiation and
millimeter wave.
Frequency Wavelength
Band Country (approx. mm)
Low-band
600 MHz US, Canada 500mm
700 MHz Mexico 428mm
Mid-band (Sub-6)
2.5 GHz US 120mm
3.55-4.2 GHz US 84-71mm
5.9-7.1 GHZ US 51-42mm
High-band (Millimeter waves)
24.25-24.45 GHz US 12mm
24.75-25.25 GHz US 12mm
26.5-27.5 GHz Mexico 11mm
27.5-28.35 GHz US, Canada 11mm
37-40 GHz US, Canada 8-7mm
47.2-48.2 GHz US 6mm
64-71 GHz US, Canada 5-4mm