Quick Answer
LTE450 uses four 3GPP-defined frequency bands in the 410-470 MHz range: Band 31 (452.5-457.5 MHz UL / 462.5-467.5 MHz DL), Band 72 (461-469 MHz UL / 451-459 MHz DL), Band 87 (410-415 MHz UL / 420-425 MHz DL) and Band 88 (412-417 MHz UL / 422-427 MHz DL). All use Frequency Division Duplex (FDD). The most widely deployed bands for utility applications in Europe are Band 31 and Band 72.
Why Band Identification Matters
The specific LTE band in use at 450 MHz has critical implications for device procurement, hardware compatibility, and regulatory licensing. A device or module that supports “LTE450” may support Band 31 but not Band 72, or vice versa. Procuring hardware without verifying exact band support is a common and expensive mistake. Before any LTE450 deployment, you must confirm: (a) which band is licensed in your jurisdiction, (b) which bands your chosen infrastructure equipment supports, and (c) which bands your end-user devices and modules support. Mismatches at any level will prevent connectivity.
Band 31 – The European Standard
3GPP Band 31 specifies uplink frequencies of 452.5-457.5 MHz and downlink frequencies of 462.5-467.5 MHz, with a duplex spacing of 10 MHz. The supported channel bandwidth is 5 MHz, providing 25 resource blocks. Band 31 is used by Germany’s 450connect network, making it the de facto standard for utility LTE450 in continental Europe. The German spectrum allocation covers 452.5-457.5 MHz (uplink) and 462.5-467.5 MHz (downlink) across the entire country, licensed to a utility consortium.
The E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Numbers (EARFCNs) for Band 31 downlink run from 9770 (462.5 MHz) to 9869 (467.475 MHz), with a channel raster of 100 kHz. The uplink EARFCNs run from 27760 (452.5 MHz) to 27859 (457.475 MHz). Base stations broadcast their EARFCN in the Master Information Block (MIB) and System Information Block Type 1 (SIB1), allowing devices to identify the carrier.
Band 31 has strong chipset support from major module vendors. Quectel’s EC21-E and EC200 series, Telit’s LE910 series, and modules from Sierra Wireless and u-blox have published support for Band 31. When requesting quotes for LTE450 modules for European utility applications, specifying “Band 31 support” is the most precise requirement.
Band 72 – The Nordic Arrangement
Band 72 uses the inverse frequency arrangement to Band 31: uplink is 461-469 MHz and downlink is 451-459 MHz. The duplex spacing is 10 MHz and the channel bandwidth is 5 MHz. Band 72 is used in Finland and was the basis for early Nordic LTE450 utility deployments. The inverted UL/DL arrangement compared to Band 31 reflects the different historical spectrum assignments in the Nordic region, where the lower portion of the 450 MHz band had been assigned differently from the rest of Europe.
Band 72 and Band 31 are technically incompatible – a device supporting only Band 31 cannot operate on a Band 72 network, and vice versa – despite both being “LTE450” in colloquial use. This is an important consideration for cross-border operations or when procuring hardware for a network that may eventually span multiple countries with different band plans. Multi-band modules that support both Band 31 and Band 72 are available and are recommended for any deployment with potential for geographic expansion.
Bands 87 and 88 – Lower 410-425 MHz Allocations
Bands 87 and 88 are defined in the lower part of the 410-470 MHz range. Band 87 specifies 410-415 MHz uplink and 420-425 MHz downlink, while Band 88 specifies 412-417 MHz uplink and 422-427 MHz downlink. These bands have 10 MHz duplex spacing and support 5 MHz channel bandwidth. They are less commonly deployed than Bands 31 and 72, but represent important options for countries where the 450-470 MHz range is occupied by existing services (such as TETRA emergency communications, which uses portions of this range in some countries).
Chipset support for Bands 87 and 88 is more limited than for Bands 31 and 72. Procurement of hardware for these bands requires careful verification with the module vendor, and it is advisable to request confirmed support documentation rather than relying on product datasheets alone.
EARFCN Calculation and Reference
The EARFCN is calculated from the carrier frequency using the formula: for downlink, EARFCN_DL = F_offset_DL + (F_DL – F_low_DL)/0.1, where F_offset and F_low values are defined per band in 3GPP TS 36.101 Table 5.7.3-1. For operational purposes, the EARFCNs you need are typically provided by the spectrum regulator or network vendor as part of the licence conditions or system configuration documentation.
| Band | DL EARFCN Start | DL EARFCN End | UL EARFCN Start | UL EARFCN End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 31 | 9770 | 9869 | 27760 | 27859 |
| Band 72 | 461 | 538 | 28261 | 28338 |
| Band 87 | 6450 | 6499 | 24450 | 24499 |
| Band 88 | 6600 | 6649 | 24600 | 24649 |
Channel Bandwidth Options and Trade-offs
LTE supports multiple channel bandwidths: 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz. At 450 MHz, only 1.4, 3 and 5 MHz are typically available, dictated by the amount of spectrum licensed. A wider channel provides higher throughput but requires more spectrum. The 5 MHz option (25 RBs, approximately 15-30 Mbps peak) is by far the most common for utility LTE450 deployments, and represents the practical maximum given spectrum availability at 450 MHz.
| Channel BW | Resource Blocks | Peak DL (SISO) | Peak DL (2×2 MIMO) | Typical Utility Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 MHz | 6 | ~3 Mbps | ~6 Mbps | Pure AMI / low-data IoT |
| 3 MHz | 15 | ~8 Mbps | ~16 Mbps | Mixed AMI + SCADA |
| 5 MHz | 25 | ~15 Mbps | ~30 Mbps | Full utility deployment |
Frequently Asked Questions
Band 31 uses 452.5-457.5 MHz uplink and 462.5-467.5 MHz downlink. Band 72 is the inverse: 461-469 MHz uplink and 451-459 MHz downlink. The duplex spacing is the same (10 MHz) but the UL/DL frequency assignment is reversed. The two bands are incompatible – devices must be specified for the correct band for their deployment country. Germany and most of continental Europe use Band 31; Finland and some Nordic deployments use Band 72.
Yes – multi-band modules and routers can support Band 31, Band 72 and other LTE450 bands simultaneously. Multi-band capability is strongly recommended for any application with cross-border requirements or where hardware may be redeployed between networks. Always check the module datasheet for the specific 3GPP band list and request vendor confirmation for critical deployments.
The most common channel bandwidth for LTE450 is 5 MHz, providing 25 resource blocks and approximately 15-30 Mbps peak throughput. Some deployments use 3 MHz or 1.4 MHz where spectrum is more limited. The channel bandwidth used is set at the network level and cannot be changed by individual devices.
The multiple bands reflect the historical spectrum assignments in different countries and regions. When LTE was standardised for the 450 MHz range, regulators in different countries had already assigned the spectrum in different configurations. Rather than forcing countries to re-farm spectrum, 3GPP defined multiple bands to accommodate existing national assignments. The CEPT/ECC harmonisation process aims to reduce this fragmentation over time.