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 September 2026. Please note: spectrum situation likely to be subject to substantial change over coming months.

700MHz (Band 28) FDD

EE was the first to launch the spectrum commercially, using it as NR only with NRARFCN 156510. Subsequently EE started to deploy in some areas as 4G. Three were then next, launching theirs as LTE with EARFCN 9360 though there has been some use of the spectrum as NR DSS seen. Finally, Virgin Media O2 launched their spectrum initially as 5G, though, like EE, also O2 then started to use 700MHz as 4G in some areas, EARFCN 9260. With the Vodafone Three merger, EARFCN 9360 has been seen in a number of configurations, including MOCN configuration supporting both Vodafone customer use and Three clients, Three only use (non-MOCN) and Vodafone only use (non-MOCN).

700MHz (SDL) FDD

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

800MHz (Band 20) FDD

Virgin Media O2 uses 10MHz paired of 800MHz spectrum, DL EARFCN 6400. BT's EE meanwhile has 5MHz paired, DL EARFCN 6225. With the Vodafone Three Merger, EARFCN 6175 has been seen for Three PLMN only use as well as for MOCN, meanwhile EARFCN 6300 has been seen for Vodafone PLMN only use, and also as MOCN.

900MHz (Band 8) FDD

900MHz spectrum has been subject to much change over the past years. The modern configuration is as above with Vodafone(Three) having the lower half and O2 the upper half. Vodafone typically operates 10MHz paired 4G +/- 5G and GSM channels 1-22 inclusive. There is some deployment of 15MHz NR, in the London Underground. Virgin Media O2's operates up to 15MHz paired NR Band 8, and 2.4MHz paired 2G. LTE 900MHz 10MHz can also be seen, namely 10MHz bandwidth starting below the GSM.

1500MHz (Band 32) Supplementary Downlink

This spectrum is downlink only and therefore must be paired with another band, such as Band 20, for uplink. The former block, 1452-1472MHz, is subject to concurrent total transfer to Vodafone Limited and Telefonica UK Limited, from 01/08/25 to 30/9/27, prior to outright total transfer to Telefonica UK Limited from 30/9/27. As of September 2026, O2 has already built a substantial 1400MHz deployment footprint using 1452-1472MHz, with some sites utilising the spectrum as 4G with EARFCN 10020, while others utilise the spectrum for 5G, NRARFCN 291650. The latter block, 1472-1492MHz, is primarily used by Vodafone/Three/VodafoneThree and has been seen with MOCN use.

1800MHz (Band 3) FDD Post-Merger Configuration

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. VodafoneThree, following the merger, started to deploy MOCN 1800MHz 4G with EARFCN 1363. Meanwhile, at sites without MOCN, Three customers gained access to 20MHz bandwidth L18 - the 20MHz bandwidth deliverable through the 5.8MHz paired blocks Vodafone previously utilised being combined with Three's 15MHz blocks alongside. O2 then has 5.8MHz paired and has several EARFCNs: 1226 for Macro sites generally and 1228 for microcells and small cells but 1229, 1230 and others have also been seen.

2100MHz (Band 1) FDD: 20MHz VF3, O2 19.4MHz configuration

VodafoneThree 20MHz wide 2100MHz band configuration with downlink 2110.3MHz-2130.3MHz (4G+/-5G), while O2 19.4MHz is 2130.3-2149.7MHz, most recently seen as 4G. EE uses 2149.7-2169.7MHz for NR typically., although 497 exists still in some cases, such as some DASs.

2100MHz (Band 1) FDD Up to 29.4MHz VF3 configuration

2100MHz live deployment after retuning in November 2025, NB transitioning to configuration as shown in "2100MHz (Band 1) FDD: 20MHz VF3, O2 19.4MHz configuration".

2300MHz (Band 40) TDD

O2 operates 40MHz of 2300MHz for EARFCN 39250 and 39448 in Great Britain [excludes Northern Ireland].

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

O2 40MHz NR Band 38, EE 30MHz NR Band 7

Due to concurrent total transfer, O2 was able to launch 40MHz NR 2600MHz TDD. EE also has n7 2600MHz FDD with up to 30MHz. VodafoneThree operates 20MHz paired 4G.

An alternate configuration (typically older builds)

C-Band TDD

3410-3800MHz is allocated in this band. VodafoneThree have access to the lion's share of spectrum in this band, with 210MHz. We have seen VodafoneThree deployments with 200MHz across two 100MHz blocks. O2 operates 20MHz and 80MHz spectrum blocks with some sites having 100MHz n78 through 80+20. EE has two 40MHz blocks and typically has both live.