Sub-6 Gigahertz (Sub-6 GHz)
Noun
Sub-6 Gigahertz (Sub-6 GHz) refers to one of the two main frequencies used in the full-scale deployment of 5G, alongside Millimeter Wave (mmWave). The Sub-6 GHz band is defined by the 3GPP as the frequencies between 410 MHz and 7125 MHz. It’s sometimes also referred to as the Sub-7 GHz band.
This frequency band is also utilized by LTE (4G) and WLAN technologies. Sub-6 GHz benefits from relatively few technical issues and, depending on the specific frequency, can leverage resources previously validated for 3G and 4G technologies.
However, due to the long history of usage in the Sub-6 GHz band, most of the frequencies within it are already in use, making it difficult to secure additional bandwidth. Furthermore, its relatively lower frequency range compared to mmWave (24 GHz–40 GHz) means it is limited in terms of the speeds it can deliver in 5G applications. Nevertheless, it offers a longer range, more suitable for real-world use.
Sub-6 GHz vs mmWave and Gigabit LTE signal coverage
Example of Sub-6 Gigahertz in a sentence
"Sub-6 GHz offers better 5G coverage, making 5G more accessible."
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