The electromagnetic spectrum: Where will 5G fit?

Cellular data only travels on a relatively small portion of the electromagnetic

wave spectrum. But with 5G, it will be on a wider range than ever before.

Wave type

Frequency

1020 Hz

Gamma ray

1018

X-ray

1016

Ultra violet

Finding 5G

1015

The parts of the spectrum

allocated for 5G span segments

of both radio and microwaves.

Visible

1014

Infrared

Frequency

1012

100 GHz

(1011 Hz)

1011

Microwave

Ranges already

licensed for 5G

use by

109

United States

108

Europe

Radio

10

High bands

6–100 GHz

6

104 Hz

Wavelength

Mid bands

1–6 GHz

Waves get larger

at lower frequencies.

The larger a wave is,

the less data it can

help transmit.

Frequencies widely

allocated to LTE

1

Low bands

<1 GHz

0.1 GHZ

(108 Hz)

Quartz | qz.com

The electromagnetic spectrum:

Where will 5G fit?

Cellular data only travels on a relatively small

portion of the electromagnetic wave

spectrum. But with 5G, it will be on a wider

range than ever before.

Wave type

Frequency

1020 Hz

Gamma ray

1018

X-ray

1016

Ultra violet

1015

Visible

1014

Infrared

1012

1011

Microwave

109

108

Radio

104 Hz

Wavelength

Waves get larger

at lower frequencies.

The larger a wave is,

the less data it can

help transmit.

Finding 5G

The parts of the spectrum

allocated for 5G span

segments of both radio

and microwaves.

Frequency

100 GHz

(1011 Hz)

Ranges already

licensed for 5G

use by

United States

Europe

10

High bands

6–100 GHz

6

Mid bands

1–6 GHz

Frequencies widely

allocated to LTE

1

Low bands

<1 GHz

0.1 GHZ

(108 Hz)

Quartz | qz.com

The electromagnetic

spectrum: Where will 5G fit?

Cellular data only travels on a

relatively small portion of the

electromagnetic wave spectrum.

But with 5G, it will be on a wider

range than ever before.

Wave type

Frequency

1020 Hz

Gamma ray

1018

X-ray

1016

Ultra violet

1015

Visible

1014

Infrared

1012

1011

Microwave

109

108

Radio

104 Hz

Wavelength

Waves get larger

at lower frequencies.

The larger a wave is,

the less data it can

help transmit.

Finding 5G

The parts of the spectrum

allocated for 5G span

segments of both radio

and microwaves.

Frequency

100 GHz

(1011 Hz)

Ranges already

licensed for 5G

use by

United States

Europe

10

High

bands

6–100

GHz

6

Mid

bands

1–6

GHz

Frequencies

widely allocated

to LTE

1

Low

bands

<1 GHz

0.1 GHZ

(108 Hz)

Quartz | qz.com

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