Band 3 (1800 MHz): The most

popular global brand for LTE

Prepared by GSA based on information in the GSA

Networks, Technologies & Spectrum (NTS) Database

December 2017

©Copyright 2017 Global mobile Suppliers Association 1

 Far more LTE networks have been deployment at 1800 MHz (band 3) than
in any other frequency band. Band 3 is now widely used throughout Europe,
APAC, MEA, and regions of South America – and it has become a core band for
LTE deployments. There are mobile and FWA LTE networks in 135 countries/
territories using band 3 either as a single band or as part of a multi-band
deployment. Band 3 is now used in 48.5% of all launched LTE or LTE-Advanced
networks worldwide, and it has greatly assisting international roaming for
mobile broadband services.
There are 316 LTE We have identified 316 LTE or LTE-Advanced networks that are using 1800 MHz
or LTE-Advanced
networks using (band 3). (Data is taken from GSA’s NTS database, correct as of 1 December
1800 MHz 2017, and includes mobile and FWA LTE networks.)
(band 3) spectrum

Figure 1: Countries with launched LTE or LTE-Advanced networks using band 3 (1800 MHz)

Whilst some countries only have a single operator using 1800 MHz for LTE,
others have as many as five, and Russia and South Africa are home to six
operators using band 3.

GSA Report | December 2017 | Band 3 (1800 MHz): The most popular global band for LTE

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 Figure 2: Number of launched LTE or LTE-Advanced networks using band 3 (1800 MHz) per
country

The rise in use of spectrum at 1800 MHz looks set to continue into 2018. A
number of countries are in the process of, or are about to start, or have just
completed spectrum auctions or other licensing initiatives to facilitate the launch
of LTE networks operating at 1800 MHz. Some of these auctions will provide
existing operators with larger chunks of spectrum within band 3, others will
gain access to spectrum at this frequency for the first time.

Examples of initiatives include:

•• Australia: the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)

began in late November an auction to sell off spectrum in various
bands – including band 3. The awards were announced just as this
paper was being finalised with Vodafone, Telstra, and TPG all winning
lots of spectrum in band 3.
•• Bangladesh: in Bangladesh an auction is underway for four paired
blocks on spectrum in band 3 – also due to be awarded early in 2018.
•• Belgium: the Belgian Telecom Regulator (BIPT) has launched
consultations concerning various frequency bands – including
1800 MHz – and their potential use for 5G in the future.

GSA Report | December 2017 | Band 3 (1800 MHz): The most popular global band for LTE

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 •• Bulgaria: in October 2017 the Bulgarian telecom regulator (CRC)
opened consultation talks regarding allocation of the 2x 10 MHz of
unused spectrum in the 1800 MHz band.
•• Greece: in November Greek Telecommunication Regulator (EETT) held
an 1800 MHz band tender, with Cosmote, Vodafone Greece and Wind
Hellas all acquiring spectrum.
•• India: the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) plans to auction
unused spectrum in eight bands including band 3 in the near future; a
consultation about the process is currently under way.
•• Taiwan: in Taiwan in November there was an auction of spectrum in
the 1800 MHz frequency band. Chunghwa Telecom was the winning
operator.
•• Thailand: in early 2018, Thailand’s National Broadcasting and
Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) expects to hold auctions of
the 900 and 1800 MHz bands in 2018.
•• Ukraine: the Ukrainian National Commission for State Regulation of
Communications and Informatisation (NCCIR) has decided to reallocate
spectrum at 1800 MHz, previously used for GSM, with a tender for use
of the spectrum in support of LTE.

GSA Report | December 2017 | Band 3 (1800 MHz): The most popular global band for LTE

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 Devices
As a consequence of being commonly used in networks, band 3 is also very
There are 6,171 well supported within the device ecosystem. GSA’s GAMBoD database identifies
LTE devices
capable of 6,171 LTE devices capable of supporting services at 1800 MHz; nearly 65% of
supporting LTE all the 9544 in devices in the database as a whole.
services at
1800 MHz These are mostly phones, but many other device types can also use band 3,
as Figure 3 shows.

Figure 3: Devices capable of supporting band 3, by type (base: 6,171, November 2017)

Data in the GSA’s NTS and GAMBoD databases are updated on a regular basis
and can be found at: https://gsacom.com.

GSA Report | December 2017 | Band 3 (1800 MHz): The most popular global band for LTE

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 About GSA
GSA (the Global mobile Suppliers Association) is a not-for-profit industry
organisation representing companies across the worldwide mobile ecosystem
engaged in the supply of infrastructure, semiconductors, test equipment,
devices, applications and mobile support services.

GSA actively promotes the 3GPP technology road-map – 3G, 4G, 5G – and
is a single source of information resource for industry reports and market
intelligence. GSA Members drive the GSA agenda and define the communications
and development strategy for the Association.

Membership of GSA is open to any supplier of products; systems or services

related to the mobile industry and brings many benefits including access to
the GAMBoD database. The range of benefits includes enhanced discussion,
networking and influencing opportunities on the key industry topics, and
unique promotional/visibility opportunities for your company name, capabilities,
positioning and messages. More details can be found at https://gsacom.com/
gsa-membership/

News/updates: RSS Feed: https://gsacom.com/rss-feeds/

GSA LinkedIn group: www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2313721

LTE User Devices LinkedIn group: www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4146472

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GSA/123462771012551

Contact
GSA Secretariat

Email: research@gsacom.com

Tel: +44 330 113 1572

GSA website: https://gsacom.com

NOTE: Errors and omission excepted

GSA Report | December 2017 | Band 3 (1800 MHz): The most popular global band for LTE

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