881 MHz – Frequency Band & Applications

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Frequency
881 MHz
🧭

Range
869–894 MHz
🧩

Band Group
UHF (300–1000 MHz)

🌐 Summary

The 881 MHz allocation is part of the UHF (300–1000 MHz) spectrum. This range is used worldwide for critical applications that keep our communications and infrastructure running smoothly. On this page we highlight how each band is applied in real systems, from regulatory assignments to everyday devices. Our goal is to make spectrum data clear and practical for engineers, regulators, and enthusiasts alike.

Key uses of this band include: 881 MHz: Cellular downlink paired with 824–849 MHz uplink; Mobile, Fixed; GSM/UMTS/LTE/NR downlink; LTE/NR smartphones, legacy GSM/CDMA devices.

Cellular 850 downlink (3GPP Band 5/26 DL 869–894 MHz); paired with 824–849 MHz uplink.

800/850 MHz Cellular & SMR (806–896) (Mobitex)
800/850 MHz Cellular & SMR (806–896) Overview

πŸ” Explore the full RF Spectrum database

πŸ“‘ Band & Geometry key

Field Value
Wavelength (m) 0.341
Waveforms GSM, CDMA, UMTS, LTE, 5G NR
Antenna Form Factor (Typical) ΒΌ-wave β‰ˆ 8.51 cm
Band Family IMT/Cellular
Band Cellular 850 (CLR) β€” Downlink
Primary Common Name Cellular 850 DL
FSPL @ 1 km [dB] 91.339518168241
FSPL @ 10 km [dB] 111.33951816824
Fresnel Radius @ 1 km (m) 9.2263502621592
Band Group UHF (300–1000 MHz)
Tax Band Family UHF
Tax Band Class 800/850 MHz Cellular & SMR (806–896) Band

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🧩 Applications & Usage

Field Value
Primary Application Cellular downlink paired with 824–849 MHz uplink
Lower Neighbor Use 800 MHz Public Safety / SMR β€” Downlink
Upper Neighbor Use 900 MHz (Band 8) β€” Uplink segment
Typical Services Devices GSM/UMTS/LTE/NR downlink
Market Common Devices LTE/NR smartphones, legacy GSM/CDMA devices
Refarming Use Yes (GSM→LTE→NR)
Device Ecosystem Size High (>1000 models)
Device Hotspots (MHz) 835, 845, 880
Device Category Cellular Handsets / Modems (legacy)
Typical Use Cases
Modulation (Device) GSM (200 kHz), CDMA/AMPS (legacy)
Channel Width (Device) [kHz] 200
Device Region Profiles Cellular 850 legacy in many countries
Per-Region EIRP Or Duty (Device) Network- and band-class specific; handhelds ~23 dBm
Allocation Relevance (Device) Medium (legacy cellular)
Adjacent-Band Collision Risks (Device) Moderate: cellular band edges
Example Devices Or Skus Cellular (2G/3G Legacy Devices)
Common Protocols LTE; 5G NR; GSM/EDGE; UMTS (legacy)

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πŸ—’οΈ Notes

Field Value
Receiver Selectivity Notes
Interference Notes Intermod risks with high‑power sites
Compatibility Risk Notes
Notes Cellular 850 downlink (3GPP Band 5/26 DL 869–894 MHz); paired with 824–849 MHz uplink.
Propagation Notes Strong coverage, good indoor penetration

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βš™οΈ Technical Rules

Field Value
Lower Band Frequency Limit 869
Upper Band Frequency Limit 894
EIRP Indoor Limits Base DL small cells per license
EIRP Outdoor Limits Base DL EIRP per license (high)
PSD Limit 3GPP BS mask
Emission Mask Class 3GPP Band 5/26 DL
Guardband Minimum [kHz] 100
Typical Bandwidths 200 kHz–20 MHz
Autocalculated Bandlimits No
Typical Bandwidths (Estimated) 200 kHz–20 MHz
Max EIRP [dBm] Network- and band-class specific; handhelds ~23 dBm
Power Source Or Duty Profile (Typical)
Channelization Plan 200 kHz–20 MHz
Channelization 1.25 MHz (CDMA legacy); 5 MHz (LTE/NR typical)
Guard Band Requirement
OOB Emission Limit [dBm/MHz] -13 (baseline)
Spurious Emission Limit (dBm) -30 (baseline)
RX Blocking Min [dBm] -15 (planning)
Duplexing FDD
Duplexing Information FDD DL paired with 824–849
Uplink Pairing 824–849 MHz (Cellular UL)
Downlink Pairing 869–894 MHz (Cellular DL)
Paired Band Info Band 8 (900 GSM/IMT): 880.0-915.0 MHz ↔ 925.0-960.0 MHz
Max EIRP [dBm] UE: 23 dBm, BS: up to 64 dBm
Channelization Block Size 200 kHz GSM / LTE flexible blocks
3GPP Band Number
Example 3GPP Bands LTE/NR Band 5 (n5) DL
LTE Uplink Bands Band 8
LTE Downlink Bands Band 5, Band 26
NR Uplink Bands n8
NR Downlink Bands n5, n26
Guard Bands Guard bands at band edges
Protocol Or Standard

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🌎 Country Overrides

Field Value
Tax Service Category Other / Various
Tax License Type Licensed / Service-Specific
Tax Regions Global / Varies
ITU Region 1 (Europe, Africa, Middle East (west of Persian Gulf), Western Russia & Mongolia) Mobile, Fixed
ITU Region 2 (North America, South America, Central America, Caribbean, Greenland, Eastern Pacific Islands (Americas region)) Mobile, Fixed
ITU Region 3 (Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Oceania, Indian Subcontinent, East Asia & Southeast Asia) Mobile, Fixed
License Type Licensed mobile (cellular 850/CLR)
Primary Application Cellular downlink paired with 824–849 MHz uplink
Primary Services Mobile, Fixed
Spurious Emission [dBm] -30 (baseline)
Lower Neighbor Use 800 MHz Public Safety / SMR β€” Downlink
Upper Neighbor Use 900 MHz (Band 8) β€” Uplink segment
Licensing Model Auctioned (Cellular 850 Downlink)
Typical Services Devices GSM/UMTS/LTE/NR downlink
US FCC Alloc Cellular 850 Downlink (Band 5)–

CA IC Alloc Cellular 850 Downlink–

UK Ofcom Alloc 900/850 legacy (regional)–

US Ref 47 CFR Part 22 (Cellular 850) / Part 27
Typical Bandwidths 200 kHz–20 MHz
Market Licensing Model Auctioned (IMT)
Market Common Devices LTE/NR smartphones, legacy GSM/CDMA devices
Fresnel Radius (1st, 1 km) [m] 9.2263502621592
Typical Bandwidths (Estimated) 200 kHz–20 MHz
Auction Status
Refarming Use Yes (GSM→LTE→NR)
Typical Site Spacing km 2 / 8
Device Ecosystem Size High (>1000 models)
Traffic Load Share Coverage-heavy, low capacity share
Device Hotspots (MHz) 835, 845, 880
Device Category Cellular Handsets / Modems (legacy)
Typical Use Cases
Typical Center Frequencies [MHz]
Rule Part (Fcc Or Region)
Modulation (Device) GSM (200 kHz), CDMA/AMPS (legacy)
Channel Width (Device) [kHz] 200
Device Region Profiles Cellular 850 legacy in many countries
Per-Region EIRP Or Duty (Device) Network- and band-class specific; handhelds ~23 dBm
Allocation Relevance (Device) Medium (legacy cellular)
Adjacent-Band Collision Risks (Device) Moderate: cellular band edges
Example Devices Or Skus Cellular (2G/3G Legacy Devices)
Antenna Form Factor (Typical) ΒΌ-wave β‰ˆ 8.51 cm
Power Source Or Duty Profile (Typical)

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πŸ›‘οΈ Regulatory & Neighbors

Field Value
Lower Band Frequency Limit 869
Upper Band Frequency Limit 894
Rx Blocking Min dBm -15 (planning)
Lower Neighbor Use 800 MHz Public Safety / SMR β€” Downlink
Upper Neighbor Use 900 MHz (Band 8) β€” Uplink segment
Lower Neighbor Band 800 MHz Public Safety / SMR β€” Downlink
Lower Neighbor Range 851.000–869.000 MHz
Upper Neighbor Label 900 MHz (Band 8) β€” Uplink segment
Upper Neighbor Range 895.000–901.000 MHz
Adjacent-Band Collision Risks (Device) Moderate: cellular band edges
Real-World Range (Indoor/Outdoor)
US FCC Alloc Cellular 850 Downlink (Band 5)Cellular 850 Downlink (Band 5)

CA IC Alloc Cellular 850 DownlinkCellular 850 Downlink

UK Ofcom Alloc 900/850 legacy (regional)900/850 legacy (regional)

Regulatory References US: 47 CFR Part 22 (Cellular 850) / Part 27; CA: ISED RSS‑132 (Cellular); UK: UK FAT (IMT 800/900)
Global Harmonization Global
Crossborder Coordination High
Sharing Mechanism
Auction Status
Guard Or Pair

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πŸ“ˆ Market & Measurements

Field Value
Noise Floor -110 dBm (est.)
Interference Cases
Lower Neighbor Range 851.000–869.000 MHz
Upper Neighbor Range 895.000–901.000 MHz
Interference Notes Intermod risks with high‑power sites
Market Licensing Model Auctioned (IMT)
Market Commercial Value High-value IMT band
Market Common Devices LTE/NR smartphones, legacy GSM/CDMA devices
Market Deployment Density Dense urban, broad rural coverage
Noise Floor (Estimated) -110 dBm (est.)
Market Commercial Value (Estimated) High-value IMT band
Ecosystem Maturity Mature
Indoor Penetration Good
Known Interference No major interference issues noted
Device Ecosystem Size High (>1000 models)
Real-World Range (Indoor/Outdoor)
Antenna Form Factor (Typical) ΒΌ-wave β‰ˆ 8.51 cm
Ecosystem Maturity Mature
Device Ecosystem Size High (>1000 models)
Chipset Availability Qualcomm, MediaTek, HiSilicon
Operator Deployments Global Tier-1 operators
Technology Generations Deployed Multiple / TBD
Roaming Support Yes
Traffic Load Share Coverage-heavy, low capacity share
Indoor Penetration Good
Known Interference No major interference issues noted
Occupancy Medium
Occupancy Bucket Pct 10–30%
Latency Profile
Common Channels Or Profiles
Security Features
Lbt Or Fhss Requirement
Popularity (Installed Base)
Coexistence Tips
Latency Class
Device Hotspots (Scoped && Tagged) –

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