SpectrumWiki

Radio spectrum allocations

Look up a frequency or a range.

Examples: 88.5 MHz, 1350–1430 MHz, 2.4 GHz

28.35 GHz (28,350,000,000 Hz)

U.S. Federal Government Allocations

27.5 – 30 GHz

Footnotes

  • 5.484A   The use of the bands 10.95-11.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), 11.45-11.7 GHz (space-to-Earth), 11.7-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 2, 12.2-12.75 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 3, 12.5-12.75 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 1, 13.75-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space), 17.8-18.6 GHz (space-to-Earth), 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), 27.5-28.6 GHz (Earth-to-space), 29.5-30 GHz (Earth-to-space) by a non-geostationary-satellite system in the fixed-satellite service is subject to application of the provisions of No. 9.12 for coordination with other non-geostationary-satellite systems in the fixed-satellite service. Non-geostationary-satellite systems in the fixed-satellite service shall not claim protection from geostationary-satellite networks in the fixed-satellite service operating in accordance with the Radio Regulations, irrespective of the dates of receipt by the Bureau of the complete coordination or notification information, as appropriate, for the non-geostationary-satellite systems in the fixed-satellite service and of the complete coordination or notification information, as appropriate, for the geostationary-satellite networks, and No. 5.43A does not apply. Non-geostationary-satellite systems in the fixed-satellite service in the above bands shall be operated in such a way that any unacceptable interference that may occur during their operation shall be rapidly eliminated. (WRC 2000)

  • 5.516B   The following bands are identified for use by high-density applications in the fixed-satellite service:

    17.3-17.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 1,
    18.3-19.3 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 2,
    19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) in all Regions,
    39.5-40 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 1,
    40-40.5 GHz (space-to-Earth) in all Regions,
    40.5-42 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 2,
    47.5-47.9 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 1,
    48.2-48.54 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 1,
    49.44-50.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 1,

    and

    27.5-27.82 GHz (Earth-to-space) in Region 1,
    28.35-28.45 GHz (Earth-to-space) in Region 2,
    28.45-28.94 GHz (Earth-to-space) in all Regions,
    28.94-29.1 GHz (Earth-to-space) in Region 2 and 3,
    29.25-29.46 GHz (Earth-to-space) in Region 2,
    29.46-30 GHz (Earth-to-space) in all Regions,
    48.2-50.2 GHz (Earth-to-space) in Region 2.

    This identification does not preclude the use of these frequency bands by other fixed-satellite service applications or by other services to which these frequency bands are allocated on a co-primary basis and does not establish priority in these Radio Regulations among users of the frequency bands. Administrations should take this into account when considering regulatory provisions in relation to these frequency bands. See Resolution 143 (Rev.WRC 19). (WRC-19)

  • 5.517A   The operation of earth stations in motion communicating with geostationary fixed-satellite service space stations within the frequency bands 17.7-19.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 27.5-29.5 GHz (Earth-to-space) shall be subject to the application of Resolution 169 (WRC 19). (WRC 19)

  • 5.537A   In Bhutan, Cameroon, China, Korea (Rep. of), the Russian Federation, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, the Dem. People’s Rep. of Korea, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam, the allocation to the fixed service in the frequency band 27.9-28.2 GHz may also be used by high altitude platform stations (HAPS) within the territory of these countries. Such use of 300 MHz of the fixed-service allocation by HAPS in the above countries is further limited to operation in the HAPS-to-ground direction and shall not cause harmful interference to, nor claim protection from, other types of fixed-service systems or other co-primary services. Furthermore, the development of these other services shall not be constrained by HAPS. See Resolution 145 (Rev.WRC 19). (WRC 19)

  • 5.538   Additional allocation: the bands 27.500-27.501 GHz and 29.999-30.000 GHz are also allocated to the fixed-satellite service (space to Earth) on a primary basis for the beacon transmissions intended for up-link power control. Such space-to-Earth transmissions shall not exceed an equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) of +10 dBW in the direction of adjacent satellites on the geostationary-satellite orbit. (WRC-07)

  • 5.539   The band 27.5-30 GHz may be used by the fixed-satellite service (Earth-to-space) for the provision of feeder links for the broadcasting-satellite service.

  • 5.540   Additional allocation: the band 27.501-29.999 GHz is also allocated to the fixed-satellite service (space-to-Earth) on a secondary basis for beacon transmissions intended for up-link power control.

  • NG62  In the bands 28.5-29.1 GHz and 29.25-29.5 GHz, stations in the fixed-satellite service shall not cause harmful interference to, or claim protection from, stations in the fixed service operating under the following call signs: KEB35, KGB72, KGC79, KIL20, KME49, KQG58, KQH74, KSA96, KSE73, KVH83, KYJ33, KZS88, WAX78, WLT380, WMK817, WML443, WMP367, and WSL69.

  • NG165  In the bands 18.8-19.3 GHz and 28.6-29.1 GHz, geostationary-satellite networks in the fixed-satellite service shall not cause harmful interference to, or claim protection from, non-geostationary-satellite systems in the fixed-satellite service.

  • NG527A  Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs), as regulated under 47 CFR part 25, are an application of the fixed-satellite service (FSS) and the following provisions shall apply:

      (a) In the bands 10.7-11.7 GHz, 19.3-19.4 GHz, and 19.6-19.7 GHz, ESIMs may be authorized for the reception of FSS emissions from geostationary and non-geostationary satellites, subject to the conditions that these earth stations may not claim protection from transmissions of non-Federal stations in the fixed service and that non-geostationary-satellite systems not cause unacceptable interference to, or claim protection from, geostationary-satellite networks.

      (b) In the bands 11.7-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space), 18.3-18.8 GHz (space-to-Earth), 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), 28.35-28.6 GHz (Earth-to-space), and 29.25-30.0 GHz (Earth-to-space), ESIMs may be authorized to communicate with geostationary satellites on a primary basis.

      (c) In the bands 11.7-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space), 18.3-18.6 GHz (space-to-Earth), 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), 28.4-28.6 GHz (Earth-to-space), and 29.5-30.0 GHz (Earth-to-space), ESIMs may be authorized to communicate with non-geostationary satellites, subject to the condition that non-geostationary-satellite systems may not cause unacceptable interference to, or claim protection from, geostationary-satellite networks.

      (d) In the band 17.8-18.3 GHz, ESIMs may be authorized for the reception of FSS emissions from geostationary and non-geostationary satellites on a secondary basis, subject to the condition that non-geostationary-satellite systems not cause unacceptable interference to, or claim protection from, geostationary-satellite networks.

      (e) In the bands 18.8-19.3 GHz (space to Earth), and 28.6-29.1 GHz (Earth to space), ESIMs may be authorized to communicate with geostationary and non-geostationary satellites, subject to the condition that geostationary-satellite networks may not cause unacceptable interference to, or claim protection from, non-geostationary satellite systems in the fixed-satellite service.

      (f)In the band 17.3-17.8 GHz, ESIMs may be authorized for the reception of FSS emissions from geostationary satellites on an unprotected basis.

Wiki entries

Unlicensed Level Probing Radars

Proposed Use
24.05–29 GHz
The FCC has released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making that would allow downward-pointing, unlicensed level probing radars, for use both in tanks and outdoors, at 5.925-7.250, 24.05-29, and 75-85 GHz.

Proposed EIRP boresight emissions limits are:

5.925-7.250 GHz: -33 dBm/MHz average and +7 dBm across 50 MHz.
24.05-29 GHz: -14 dBm/MHz average and +26 dBm across 50 MHz
75-85 GHz: -3 dBm/MHz average and +34 dBm across 50 MHz

Proposed average emissions limits to the sides and upward are:

5.925-7.250 GHz: -55 dBm/MHz
24.05-29 GHz: -41.3 dBm/MHz
75-85 GHz: -41.3 dBm/MHz

Airport Body Scanners

Current Use
24.25–30 GHz Airport body scanners
Under an FCC waiver (link below) issued to SafeView, Inc., since acquired by L-3 Security & Detection Systems, full-body airport scanners can use repeated sweeps over the range 24.25-30 GHz to detect objects hidden underneath clothes. These units are referred to as millimeter wave scanners by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but don't actually operate in the millimeter wave band (30-300 GHz).

Quoting from the FCC waiver: "The SafeView SafeScout imaging device is a security portal that uses imaging technology to detect weapons or contraband carried on an individual’s person, including non-metallic objects or explosives, which might otherwise require intrusive manual searches or be missed entirely by existing metal detectors. A person to be scanned by the SafeView device steps briefly into a transparent, upright cylinder seven feet high by four feet in diameter. Two vertical antenna masts rotate around the person over a 2-second interval. Each antenna element in turn sweeps from 24.25 to 30 GHz, operating for approximately six microseconds per sweep. The device measures reflections of the radio signals from the subject and calculates an image that shows hidden objects."

2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) Agenda Item 1.5

Proposed Use
27.5–29.5 GHz WRC-19 Agenda Item 1.5
1.5 to consider the use of the frequency bands 17.7-19.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 27.5-29.5 GHz (Earth-to-space) by earth stations in motion communicating with geostationary space stations in the fixed-satellite service and take appropriate action, in accordance with Resolution 158 [COM6/17] (WRC-15);

WRC-19 Agenda Item 1.5

Proposed Use
27.5–29.5 GHz WRC-19 Agenda Item 1.5
"to consider the use of the frequency bands 17.7-19.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 27.5-29.5 GHz (Earth-to-space) by earth stations in motion communicating with geostationary space stations in the fixed-satellite service and take appropriate action, in accordance with Resolution COM6/17 (WRC 15)"

WRC-23 Agenda Item 1.16, Non-GSO FSS earth stations in motion

Proposed Use
27.5–29.1 GHz Study for use by non-GSO earth stations in motion (E2S)
"to study and develop technical, operational and regulatory measures, as appropriate, to facilitate the use of the frequency bands 17.7-18.6 GHz and 18.8-19.3 GHz and 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 27.5-29.1 GHz and 29.5-30 GHz (Earth-to-space) by non-GSO FSS earth stations in motion, while ensuring due protection of existing services in those frequency bands, in accordance with Resolution 173 (WRC-19);"

Other 3 billion (03b) Networks

Current Use
27.6–28.4 GHz O3b Networks service and gateway uplinks
O3b is a planned satellite system that will help provide broadband service to the world's "other 3 billion" people, generally in the equatorial region, that do not otherwise have good access.

O3b consists of 12 satellites in equatorial medium Earth orbit (MEO) at 8,062 km altitude. The satellites will be able to provide optimal service to +/-45 deg latitude, with limited service to +/-45-62 deg. Therefore, O3b will be able to provide services outside the equatorial regions, including in developed countries, although its main target area is developing countries. MEO was chosen to reduce the latency (round trip travel time) of the data connection, compared to the much larger distance/travel time to geostationary orbit and back.

The satellites will provide broadband service to "Tier 1" customers such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and "Tier 2" customers including cellular backhaul and VSAT network services. Because the satellites are not in geostationary orbits, customers will have to use tracking antennas to communicate with the satellites.

Each satellite provides service using ten 216 MHz channels.

O3b will operate in the fixed-satellite service, although FSS allocations do not exist throughout the anticipated frequency range.

O3b is based in Jersey, Channel Islands, and is therefore governed by Ofcom, the U.K. telecommunications regulatory authority. Its network operations center is in Virginia (USA), and its satellite operations center will be in Luxembourg. Multiple ground stations will operate around the globe.

ViaSat-1 Ka-band Satellite

Current Use
28.1–28.6 GHz ViaSat-1 uplink
ViaSat uses this spectrum for its Ka-band direct-to-consumer broadband Internet service, under the trade name "exede." The ViaSat-1 satellite was launched from Baikonur on October 19th, 2011, and entered commercial service on January 16th, 2012.

The satellite downlinks and uplinks use both right- and left-hand circular polarizations from a geostationary orbit at 115.1 deg west longitude.

ViaSat-1 has 72 user beams, of which 63 serve the U.S. Nine beams serve Canada.

User terminals utilize a dish of 0.695 m (about 27") maximum diameter, and will uplink using carriers between 625 kHz and 10 MHz wide using max EIRP between 47.2-50.3 dBW. The antennas have transmit gain of about 44 dBi, and receive gain of about 40 dBi. ViaSat is authorized for up to 250,000 such terminals in the continental U.S., operating under the callsign E120026.

The satellite downlink bandwidth is between 52-416 MHz.

As of March 2013, ViaSat claimed 512,000 customers. They have also announced plans for the ViaSat-2 satellite, to be launched in mid-2016, which will have 2.5 times the capacity of ViaSat-1, and will have a single beam that covers the continental U.S., Mexico, most of Canada, portions of Central America and the Caribbean, and the North Atlantic over to the western edge of Europe.

Hughes Network Systems EchoStar XVII (Jupiter-1)

Current Use
28.35–28.6 GHz EchoStar XVII FSS (Earth-to-space)
Hughes is authorized to construct, launch, and operate the EchoStar XVII (aka Jupiter-1) Ka-band GSO satellite at 107.1 deg west longitude, under FCC call sign S2753.

Jupiter-1 will be used to provide new high-speed satellite-based Internet service, which improves over slower Ku-band satellite Internet services. In the U.S., Hughes' Jupiter service will compete with Viasat's Exede service, also operating in the Ka band.

Hughes was granted a waiver to allow GSO FSS operations in the 18.8-19.3 GHz band (space-to-Earth) on a non-conforming basis. It must not interfere with non-GSO non-federal FSS or federal GSO and non-GSO operations in this band.

Hughes' authorization was granted by the FCC on June 12, 2012.