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The 700 MHz band is a shorthand for a portion of upper-UHF radio spectrum associated with mobile broadband and the transition from analogue to digital television. It is not one globally fixed frequency range: the exact limits, uplink and downlink channels, and guard bands depend on the region and national plan.

What does “700 MHz band” mean?

It refers broadly to radio frequencies around 700 megahertz (MHz). The label alone is not a complete technical specification: it does not identify a country’s exact frequency boundaries, how channels are paired, or which services may operate there. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) divides the world into Regions 1, 2, and 3 and describes frequency use through allocations, footnotes, plans, and coordination procedures. For a legally current allocation, consult the current ITU Radio Regulations and the relevant national regulator; a broad band label does not establish local licensing rules.

Why is it called a digital-dividend band?

“Digital dividend” describes spectrum made available as terrestrial television moved from analogue to digital broadcasting and spectrum use was reorganized. ITU materials explain that World Radiocommunication Conference decisions allocated upper portions of UHF, including spectrum associated with 700 MHz, to mobile service and identified them for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT). The transition did not automatically make the frequencies available for mobile use in every country: national decisions, continuing broadcasting or other uses, and coordination with neighboring administrations still affect implementation. In an ITU announcement, Secretary-General Houlin Zhao said: “The switchover from analogue broadcasting will create new distribution networks and expand the potential for wireless innovation and services.”

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What frequency range is the 700 MHz band?

There is no single worldwide range captured by the shorthand. The cited ITU sources describe different contexts:

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Context Range or arrangement What it means
ITU Region 1, as described in an ITU 2018 digital-dividend report 694–790 MHz The report describes this as the second digital-dividend band in Region 1 and as the EU’s harmonized second digital-dividend band.
IMT arrangements identified in an ITU-D report on Africa 698–803 MHz A regional example of IMT arrangements associated with the 700 MHz band; it is not interchangeable with the Region 1 range.

These figures are context-specific descriptions, not competing universal definitions. For example, an ITU report on harmonized EU conditions describes a paired frequency-division duplex (FDD) arrangement within 694–790 MHz, with national channel-plan options.

How do national 700 MHz plans differ?

Indonesia’s FDD plan

Indonesia’s 2023 regulation provides a specific example of a national channel plan: 703–748 MHz is assigned for uplink and 758–803 MHz for downlink in FDD mode. It sets 694–703 MHz and 803–806 MHz as guard bands, with 748–758 MHz as the center gap. These values apply to that regulation, not to every country’s 700 MHz band.

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What to check in another country

  • The jurisdiction and, where relevant, the ITU Region.
  • The exact frequency limits and the uplink and downlink assignments.
  • Whether the plan uses FDD or another arrangement.
  • Guard bands, a center gap, adjacent-service rules, and cross-border coordination constraints.
  • Whether a device supports the precise bands used locally; a “700 MHz” label alone does not confirm compatibility.
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What does the band mean for mobile devices?

Mobile broadband is a major use associated with 700 MHz, but device compatibility depends on the local plan and the device’s supported frequency bands—not simply on whether its specifications mention “700 MHz.” The sources cited here do not establish compatibility for any particular handset, router, or other device. Check the device’s detailed band specifications against the national regulator’s plan or your mobile operator’s published network bands.

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