How is the radio spectrum divided into bands?
ITU-R Recommendation V.431 divides the spectrum into numbered bands where band N covers 0.3×10N to 3×10N Hz. The familiar names are VLF (3–30 kHz), LF (30–300 kHz), MF (300–3,000 kHz), HF (3–30 MHz), VHF (30–300 MHz), UHF (300–3,000 MHz), SHF (3–30 GHz), EHF (30–300 GHz) and THF (300–3,000 GHz).[1]
What are the bands and their uses?
| Band (number) | Frequency | Wavelength | Example uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLF (4) | 3–30 kHz | 100–10 km | Submarine communication, navigation |
| LF (5) | 30–300 kHz | 10–1 km | Time signals, long-wave broadcast, RFID 125 kHz |
| MF (6) | 300–3,000 kHz | 1 km–100 m | AM broadcast |
| HF (7) | 3–30 MHz | 100–10 m | Shortwave, amateur, 13.56 MHz NFC/RFID |
| VHF (8) | 30–300 MHz | 10–1 m | FM broadcast, aviation, marine |
| UHF (9) | 300–3,000 MHz | 1 m–10 cm | TV, cellular, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, GNSS |
| SHF (10) | 3–30 GHz | 10–1 cm | Wi-Fi 5/6 GHz, satellite, radar, 5G |
| EHF (11) | 30–300 GHz | 10–1 mm | mmWave 5G, 60 GHz, automotive radar |
| THF (12) | 300–3,000 GHz | 1–0.1 mm | Research, imaging, sensing |
Who allocates spectrum?
The ITU Radio Regulations allocate bands to services in three regions; national regulators such as the FCC (47 CFR Part 2 Table of Frequency Allocations) implement them.[2][3] See spectrum regulation.
What other band naming schemes exist?
Radar letter bands from IEEE Std 521 (L, S, C, X, Ku, K, Ka, V, W) are widely used in microwave engineering; see radar band letters. Waveguide bands use WR designations; cellular bands use 3GPP numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is UHF 300 MHz to 3 GHz?
Yes in the ITU nomenclature; IEEE radar designations use UHF for 300–1000 MHz.
What band is 2.4 GHz?
UHF in ITU terms, S band in IEEE radar letters.
Where does mmWave begin?
EHF, 30–300 GHz, corresponds to wavelengths 10 mm to 1 mm.
See also
References
Online sources accessed October 21, 2026; printed works cited by edition. See all sources.
- “Recommendation ITU-R V.431: Nomenclature of the frequency and wavelength bands used in telecommunications”. ITU-R. current version.
- “Radio Regulations”. International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R). 2024 edition.
- “47 CFR Part 2: Frequency Allocations and Radio Treaty Matters; General Rules and Regulations”. U.S. Federal Communications Commission, via eCFR. current.