As we enter the second phase of the 5G rollout, where we actually get to use the 5G services, we bring you a list of 5G bands in the US for Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. We have compiled this list with various 5G frequency bands, including the popular n41 band that’s offered by some carriers, so you can pick your mobile carrier with ease. You can find the spectrum range, the kind of frequency bands US telecom companies are using, and the sort of coverage and speed you will get on your 5G smartphone. So on that note, let’s go ahead and find the complete list of 5G bands for Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile in the US.
5G Bands Supported by US Carriers (Updated September 2022)
In this article, we have covered 4 major US carriers, and you can find their 5G frequency bands from the list below. You can use the table below and move to a carrier of your choice.
Verizon
Of all the carriers, Verizon offers the fastest average 5G speeds, up to 722Mbps, in the US, according to an Opensignal report. It’s because Verizon has a healthy balance of 5G bands from mid-band sub-6GHz to mmWave bands. On top of that, Verizon also uses DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing) to bring 5G speeds in non-urban areas by combining 4G spectrums.
Not to mention, Verizon has the highest share of the 28GHz band, which makes it one of the biggest potential mmWave carriers in the US. Note that Verizon calls sub-6GHz frequency as Nationwide 5G and mmWave frequency as Ultra Wide Band 5G.
Band Frequency Band Type n77 3.7GHz Mid-band sub-6 GHz n260 39GHz mmWave n261 28GHz mmWave n2, n5, n66 1900MHz, 850MHz, 1700-2100MHz DSS with LTE
AT&T
While AT&T won the 39GHz spectrum in May 2020, it’s still relying on its old 850MHz frequency band to offer low-band 5G to users in the US. The average 5G speed of AT&T mobile network currently is 59.3Mbps. According to a report, AT&T has launched 39GHz 5G in parts of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s expected that AT&T’s 39GHz 5G will offer speed up to 3Gbps.
| Band | Frequency | Band Type |
|---|---|---|
| n260 | 39GHz | mmWave |
| n5 | 850MHz | Low-band |
| n77 | 3.7GHz | Mid-band sub-6 GHz |
Sprint
Sprint is now merged with T-Mobile, so Sprint users can access T-Mobile’s 5G network as well, offering a better experience. As for Sprint’s 5G band, it only has one 5G frequency band, but the 2.5GHz frequency band is a sweet spot when it comes to offering fast speed and good coverage.
After the merger, T-Mobile is taking great advantage of the 2.5GHz frequency band to extend faster 5G services to its users. The mid-band frequency in Sprint’s 5G network is offering a download speed of around 180Mbps on average.
Band Frequency Band Type n41 2.5GHz Mid-band sub-6GHz
T-Mobile
After Verizon, if there is one carrier that offers both mmWave and Mid-band 5G, then it’s T-Mobile. As I mentioned above, after the Sprint-T-Mobile merger, the company is offering Mid-band 5G services using the 2.5GHz band. In addition, it has the spectrum for mmWave 5G as well: 28GHz and 39GHz. And to serve the downtown areas, T-Mobile is using 600MHz 5G. The best part is that it has an average 5G speed of 243Mbps, right behind Verizon.
Band Frequency Band Type n41 2.5GHz Mid-band sub-6GHz n260 39GHz mmWave n261 28GHz mmWave n71 600MHz Low-band
Learn All About 5G Bands of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile
So these are the 5G bands that you need to know if you are based out of the US. Currently, there are only a few carriers who are offering mmWave 5G to the masses. Even in such cases, the coverage area is rather limited and restricted to a select few urban places. So before choosing your mobile carrier in the US, do take a look at all the 5G frequency bands they are offering. Anyway, that is all from us. If you found the article helpful, let us know in the comment section below.
H Jeff ,, you’re gonna die anyway stop worrying about everything that’ll kill ya faster .
I’m trying to find a phone that will get the best available speeds on AT&T’s network, is an Android phone, and is a smallish form-factor.
Small phones aren’t much of a thing anymore (Sony stopped making truly “compact” phones – I’m still using my Xperia XZ2 Compact), so there’s limited options.
I’ve narrowed it down to a Sony Xperia 5iii (coming in October) or an Asus Zenfone 8.
On the AT&T forums, I’ve been told that the Asus, and possibly also the Sony, won’t get the top speeds on the AT&T network, partly because of which bands are supported, but also because AT&T only allows certain “vetted” phones (i.e. mostly ones they sell themselves) to use their newer high-speed 5g bands.
Any suggestions for small Android phones, bought unlocked, that AT&T will allow to use the high-speed bands?
Are all companies doing this? Not allowing many 5g-capable phones on their higher-speed 5g bands?
– Tim
Nokia 8.3 5G
Unfortunately that phone is also not on AT&T’s whitelist, not even for VoLTE. This means that it won’t get service at all, but instead a SMS saying the phone is not compatible and a “blocked” line.
As for the Sony Xperia 5iii, there are several submodels. Only the US version (XQ-BQ62) gets VoLTE (HD Voice), but not 5G. Other submodels don’t get service at all, much like the Nokia 8.3 5G.
Unfortunately the same story holds for many other brands as well (ASUS, OnePlus…). Only some iPhones, Pixels, and Samsungs get 5G on AT&T.
One reason I left them for US Mobile (a Verizon MVNO).
How do you like US Mobile compared to AT&T? I’m currently still just using a 4G phone on an AT&T MVNO, but I live in a very rural area and consistently get between 50-72mbps download and 13-35mbps upload speed. Plus, the specific MVNO prepaid carrier I use only let’s you use the included 15GB of wifi Hotspot data (unlimited talk/text/65Gb data/month) strictly using an iPhone on AT&T. (Basically I can use all the features of the MVNO, but if my wife and daughter who use only iPhones want to be able to use their Wi-Fi Hotspot / VoLTE using data/FaceTime while not connected to Wi-Fi network…while still using an AT&T sim card for our MVNO then those specific features on iPhones are only available using this combination of phone/AT&T sim).
But anyways, I haven’t really even used 5G on my MVNO carrier although it is available to me, but was just curious how US Mobile 4G and 5G signal/ prices/features/speeds were as Im in the IT field and I’m definitely a power user but don’t want to fix what isn’t broke quite yet because of the great speeds I get everywhere and specifically great speeds at home…in the middle of nowhere.
I lost you on the bit about iPhones and AT&T.
In any case USM provides two different SIMs, for the Verizon and T-Mobile networks, respectively. Plans range from $8 for no data to $45/month for “unlimited all”, the latter dropping to $25/month for 3+ lines. (WiFi hotspot is extra). Their speeds are good: They have access to both priority data (QCI 8) and 5G “C Band” on the Verizon network, and much lower latency than Verizon’s own “Visible” brand. On T-Mobile they are deprioritized like other MVNOs, but overall T-Mobile is less congested anyway. I routinely get 200 Mbps+ download speeds on either network (though slower uploads on T-Mobile).
It’s also one of the few carriers that offer good international roaming options. But that’s actually a separate data-only SIM (or more precisely eSIM), decoupled from your regular phone line; 10Gb international roaming is included for free with their unlimited plan but you can also buy these separately even if you’re not a subscriber. (For international travel, Google Fi may still be the best overall option).
Great Post! Lots of useful information that also answers a question I had. Most Cell boosters on the market now only support up to 4G LTE Frequencies. That being said a booster would also need to boost 2.5 GHz, 2.3 GHz, 28 GHz, 39 GHz which most boosters do not support. Some carriers are using their older freqs. 1900MHz, 850MHz, 600MHz, 1700-2100MHz to carry low speed 5G signals. This will allow 5G to pass on if you have a 5G compatible phone . So for now, if you have a 5G Phone and a Booster that operates between 17, 700 MHz; Band 13, 700 MHz; Band 5, 850 MHz; Band 4, 1700/2100 MHz; Band 25/2, 1900 MHz you may be ok for the time being. Once the Major carriers ramp up and start using 2.5 GHz, 2.3 GHz, 28 GHz, 39 GHz you will not be boosting the highest speed data to your 5G freq. phone from your booster. You will only be be boosting the present day frequencies so you may me back to square 1 and look at buy another booster. Just a FYI your home microwave cooks @2.45 GHz. Take a look at 5G frequencies. Yes, a microwave oven uses focused beams at a higher power at the same frequency, think about how close you are sitting next to your 2.5 and 5 GHz router and for how many hours a day?
I can’t help grinning when I hear cellphone carriers tout their wares in the USA.
Truth is the most advanced CELLULAR NETWORK in the USA is 2.5G; if anyone takes the time to do the math, that is.
Engineers in the US are still using design methods used for the old analog network… i.e “drive-test and model tuning”.
Main reason might be they can use Telecom rather than RF Network Engineers. Doing that saves money, but there’s an old English proverb, “trying to save it at the cork while it’s leaking at the bunk”.
Designing cellular networks that way using a single frequency is like buying a Porche and just parking it in your garage because you don’t know how to drive a car.
When you want to drive it you hitch a couple of horses to it and drive it like a buggy.
Yes, you’re driving a Porche, but your horse power is limited to the horses tied to it; not the power of the engine under the hood.
Here is a simple test, ask your service provider for a 6dB antenna coverage map of your area.
What you will find is it doesn’t get too far from the tower. That’s because the antenna mounting height, coverage distance and the antenna’s E-plane plus downtilt angle forms a right triangle.
Something almost impossible to achieve using the old drive-test method.
Oh, the 6dB reference to the antenna signal /3dB power is from Physics, at that point the data-rate drops to 1/4 of bore-sight (or something like that).
Pardon me if the numbers are a bit off; I’m thinking back to some 30+ years ago when I use to do this in Professional Communications Networks.
Hi Charles, So very true. TY for the extra input.
By looking at this FCC certification, is there any way to know which networks it will work on? Seems like the bands cover several of the carriers?
super nice post, very helpful
Great and simple and well explained article.
I just bought a Galaxy A71 （A 716B）factory unlocked that shows 2.5 g frequency for T-MOBILE but is not connected at 5G in downtown Miami. If trying to change the APN it does not saves it and erases it. Do you think there is a way to make it work ？
thank you. Mario
Mario, you have the wrong version A71 if you want the full 5g experience. You need model SM-A716U. Same thing happened to me earlier last year when I bought an unlocked Oneplus 8T and happened to be an international model which didn’t have all necessary bandwidth for T Mobile.
NICE POST