GSM technology operates on the four frequency bands across the globe. These are 850/900/1800/1900 mhz. Each country uses a different combination of these four bands, usually a maximum of two bands per country.
The two frequency bands in use in the United States are 850 and 1900 mhz. As most tri-band phones are models designed for maximum compatibility across the world, the most common combination of frequency bands in a tri-band phone is 900/1800/1900 mhz. This means that if you travelled into an area which only has coverage on the 850 mhz band, you would be unable to make or receive calls. However, manufacturers are now releasing tri-band phones optimised for the American market, which support the 850/1800/1900 frequency bands. This enables users to have maximum compatibility in the United States as well as being able to use the phone abroad. Please check the frequency bands in the product descriptions to see which bands are supported.
Currently, T-Mobile operates exclusively on the 1900 mhz band. Cingular operates on both the 850 and 1900 mhz band. Cingular usually falls back to using the 850 mhz band in rural areas.
These links lead to coverage maps of major US carriers. Smaller regional carriers, may also have coverage maps.
http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/?class=coverage
http://www.cingular.com/refresh/common/estore_zipcode?selinfo=Maps
This information is provided a guide only, and we make no guarantees as to it’s accuracy. For accurate information please contact your carrier to find out which frequency bands they operate in your area.
Frequency Bands by Country
Country | 900 | 1800 | 1900 | 850 | Afghanistan | | | | | Albania | | | | | Algeria | | | | | Angola | | | | | Anguilla | | | | | Antigua & Barbuda | | | | | Argentina | | | | | Armenia | | | | | Aruba | | | | | Australia | | | | | Azerbaijan | | | | | Austria | | | | | Bahamas | | | | | Bahrain | | | | | Bangladesh | | | | | Barbados | | | | | Belarus | | | | | Belgium | | | | | Belize | | | | | Benin | | | | | Bermuda | | | | | Bolivia | | | | | Bosnia & Herzegovina | | | | | Botswana | | | | | Brazil | | | | | British Virgin Islands | | | | | Bulgaria | | | | | Burma/Myanmar - 900 planned | | | | | Cambodia | | | | | Cameroon | | | | | Canada | | | | | Cayman Islands | | | | | Chad | | | | | Chile | | | | | China | | | | | Colombia | | | | | Congo | | | | | Congo, Democratic Rep of | | | | | Costa Rica | | | | | Côte d'Ivoire | | | | | Croatia | | | | | Cuba | | | | | Cyprus | | | | | Czech Republic | | | | | Denmark | | | | | Dominica | | | | | Dominican Republic | | | | | Ecuador | | | | | Egypt | | | | | El Salvador | | | | | Eritrea | | | | | Estonia | | | | | Ethiopia | | | | | Fiji | | | | | Finland | | | | | France | | | | | French Polynesia | | | | | French West Indies (incl St Barts) | | | | | Georgia | | | | | Germany | | | | | Ghana | | | | | Greece | | | | | Greenland | | | | | Grenada | | | | | Guam | | | | | Guatemala | | | | | Guinea | | | | | Haiti | | | | | Honduras | | | | | Hong Kong | | | | | Hungary | | | | | Iceland | | | | | India | | | | | Indonesia | | | | | Iran | | | | | Iraq | | | | | Ireland | | | | | Israel | | | | | Italy | | | | | Jamaica | | | | | Japan | No GSM service in Japan | Jordan | | | | | Kazakhstan | | | | | Kenya | | | | | Korea (South) - CDMA not GSM | No GSM service in South Korea | Kosovo | | | | | Kuwait | | | | | Kyrgyzstan | | | | | Laos | | | | | Latvia | | | | | Lebanon | | | | | Liberia | | | | | Libya | | | | | Liechtenstein | | | | | Lithuania | | | | | Luxemburg | | | | | Macedonia (former Yugoslav rep) | | | | | Madagascar | | | | | Malawi | | | | | Malaysia | | | | | Maldives | | | | | Mali | | | | | Malta | | | | | Mauritius | | | | | Mexico | | | | | Moldova | | | | | Monaco | | | | | Mongolia | | | | | Morocco | | | | | Mozambique | | | | | Myanmar - 900 planned | | | | | Namibia | | | | | Nepal | | | | | Netherlands | | | | | Netherland Antilles | | | | | New Zealand | | | | | Nicaragua | | | | | Nigeria | | | | | Norway | | | | | Oman | | | | | Pakistan | | | | | Panama | | | | | Papua New Guinea | | | | | Paraguay | | | | | Peru | | | | | Philippines | | | | | Poland | | | | | Portugal | | | | | Qatar | | | | | Romania | | | | | Russia | | | | | Rwanda | | | | | Samoa - no service | | | | | Saudi Arabia | | | | | Senegal | | | | | Serbia/Montenegro | | | | | Seychelles | | | | | Sierra Leone | | | | | Singapore | | | | | Slovakia | | | | | Slovenia | | | | | South Africa | | | | | Spain | | | | | Sri Lanka | | | | | St Lucia | | | | | St Kitts & Nevis | | | | | St Vincent / Grenadines | | | | | Sudan | | | | | Sweden | | | | | Switzerland | | | | | Syria | | | | | Taiwan | | | | | Tajikistan | | | | | Tanzania | | | | | Thailand | | | | | Togo | | | | | Tonga | | | | | Trinidad & Tobago | | | | | Tunisia | | | | | Turkey | | | | | Turkmenistan | | | <p class="f |
|
|
|
