ARFCN

The Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN) is a unique number given to each
radio channel in GSM. The ARFCN can be used to calculate the exact frequency of the radio
channel.
Within the GSM900 band ARFCN 1 to 124 are used. In the GSM1800 band ARFCN 512 to 885
are used. The ARFCNs used in GSM1900 overlap with the ARFCNs used in GSM1800. In
GSM1900, ARFCN 512 to 810 are used. A multiband mobile phone will interpret ARFCN
numbers 512 to 810 as either GSM1800 or GSM1900 frequencies. The mobile phone will need
an additional parameter BAND_INDICATOR to make the correct interpretation.
A complete list of the ARFCNs and the associated radiochannels is given in the table below.
Band

ARFCN

Uplink
(MHz)

GSM450

259 n 293

450.6 + 0,2(n-259)

fup(n) + 10

GSM480

306 n 340

479.0 + 0,2(n-306)

fup(n) + 10

GSM700 GSM750

438 n 511

747.2 + 0.2(n-438)

fup(n) + 30

GSM850 GSM850

128 n 251

824.2 + 0.2(n-128)

fup(n) + 45

Primary GSM

1 n 124

890 + 0.2n

fup(n) + 45

Extended GSM

0 n 124
975 n 1023

890 + 0.2n
890 + 0.2(n-1024)

fup(n) + 45

GSM Rail

0 n 124
955 n 1023

890 + 0.2n
890 + 0.2(n-1024)

fup(n) + 45

GSM1800 GSM1800
(DCS1800)

512 n 885

1710.2 + 0.2(n-512)

fup(n) + 95

GSM1900 GSM1900
(PCS1900)

512 n 810

1850.2 + 0.2(n-512)

fup(n) + 80

GSM400

Name

GSM900

ARFCN
1
2
3
4
5
6
124

RX/UL
880
881
882
883
884
885
1003

TX/DL
925
926
927
928
929
930
1048

DUPLX
45
45
45
45
45
45
45

GSM
Indosat

Downlink
(MHz)

DCS
ARFCN
1
2
3
4
5
6

RX/UL
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715

TX/DL
1805
1806
1807
1807
1809
1810