Introduction

Spectrum layout shown generally in the most modernised commercial deployment per allocation by mobile network operators in the United Kingdom. Please note: downlink spectrum shown except in the case of TDD, excludes Shared access licensed spectrum, MOD, and services not likely to be directly attached to by general public consumer devices. n77 and B39 data may be included in time subject to usage. Latest Update January 2024 as Vodafone and EE 3G switch offs are about to rapidly ramp up.

700MHz (Band 28) FDD

On 27/04/21, Ofcom released details of the completed spectrum auction process. 700MHz paired allocations are as follows: EE UL 723-733MHz, EE DL 778-788MHz, Three UL 713-723MHz, Three DL 768-778MHz and O2 UL 703-713MHz, O2 DL 758-768MHz. EE was the first to launch the spectrum commercially, using it as NR only with NRARFCN 156510. Three were then next, launching theirs as LTE with EARFCN 9360. Finally, O2 launched their spectrum as 5G, NRARFCN 152210 in Ericsson and 152690 in Nokia. O2 then started to use 700MHz as 4G in some areas, EARFCN 9260. Three has a site with DSS 700MHz in Manchester, NRARFCN 154570.

700MHz (SDL) FDD

Only EE acquired 700MHz SDL during the auction, gaining 20MHz.

800MHz (Band 20) FDD

All four mobile network operators have spectrum in the 800MHz band: Three with 5MHz paired at EARFCN 6175, EE 5MHz paired EARFCN 6225, Vodafone 10MHz paired EARFCN 6300, O2 10MHz paired EARFCN 6400.

900MHz (Band 8) FDD

900MHz spectrum is operated by Vodafone and O2 and has been subject to much change over the past years. The modern configuration is as above with Vodafone having the lower half and O2 the upper.

1500MHz (Band 32) Supplementary Downlink

This spectrum is downlink only and therefore must be paired with another band, such as Band 20, for uplink. Vodafone and 3 both have 20MHz with EARFCNs 10020 and 10220 respectively. 3 has this spectrum deployed on multiple sites in Oxford, while Vodafone has it on on their Atlas and Smale offices.

1800MHz (Band 3) FDD

EE is the big holder of 1800MHz spectrum with 45MHz paired. 5MHz paired is used for GSM. 40MHz paired has more modern usage, up to 40MHz paired 4G (DL EARFCNs 1617 and 1815) or 20MHz paired dedicated 4G and 20MHz paired DSS 4G+5G. EE trialled 10MHz paired dedicated 4G, 10MHz paired dedicated 5G in the upper block previously. Three is the next largest at 15MHz paired, EARFCN 1392, meanwhile Vodafone and O2 each have 5.8MHz paired. Vodafone uses EARFCNs 1288, while O2 uses a few: 1226 for Macro sites generally and 1228 for microcells and small cells but 1229, 1230 and others have also been seen. While EE and 3 use 1800MHz as a core 4G layer, O2, and especially Vodafone, have it deployed solely in high load locations as a capacity add.

2100MHz (Band 1) FDD

Originally used for 3G services, the 2100MHz band is rapidly being refarmed in the UK for 4G and more recently 5G (+/- via DSS) services. Three utilises up to all their allocation for 4G services, or has 3G services at the base with 4G +/- 5G DSS at the upper segment (or entirely 3G in some cases). O2 utilises it almost always for 4G services, with DSS limited. Vodafone has long since used the spectrum entirely for 4G/4G+5G DSS. With EE 3G switch off we have seen entire use of 2100MHz for LTE, NR ARFCN TBC in this configuration.

2300MHz (Band 40) TDD

O2 owns all of the allocated spectrum in this band and currently uses 40MHz of it for EARFCN 39250 and 39448.

2600MHz (Band 7 [FDD] and Band 38 [TDD])

Vodafone deploys 20MHz of TDD, predominantly with Massive MIMO, EARFCN 37900. They also have 20MHz paired FDD of EARFCN 2850, which is used as a widespread urban capacity add, usually with 4T4R on busy sites. EE, through BT, owns 50MHz of FDD 2600MHz. 35MHz is used ubiquitously for two macro carriers: EARFCN 3350 is the primary carrier of 20MHz and 3179 is the secondary at 15MHz. The 'BT' spectrum is used for small cells with EARFCN 3026 or for a third macro carrier EARFCN 3029, or, more recently, NR carrier. 2595MHz-2620MHz was traded to O2 in November 2020 and 20MHz of it is used for O2 B38, EARFCN 38100.

C-Band TDD

3410-3800MHz is allocated in this band. The upper diagram shows the spectrum laid out as in pre transition areas while lower where spectrum transition has occurred. Currently Three operates up to 140MHz of NR across their two blocks while EE increasingly has two 40MHz blocks in use. O2 has 80MHz contiguous in areas migrated with Vodafone having 90MHz across closely located 50MHz and 40 MHz blocks.