Frequencies

This page outlines mobile phone frequency usage by mobile network operators in Aotearoa (New Zealand) as of May 2026. This information is based on actual observations.

Band Summary

The following table is a summary of the technologies and bands used by each mobile network.

4G (LTE)

Freq Band Spark One 2degrees
700 MHz 28 Essential Essential Essential
900 MHz 8 Not In Use Essential Essential
1800 MHz 3 Essential Essential Essential
2100 MHz 1 Essential Recommended Recommended
2300 MHz 40 Recommended Not In Use Not In Use
2600 MHz 7 Recommended Recommended Not In Use

5G (NR)

Freq Band Spark One 2degrees
850 MHz n5 Recommended Not In Use Not In Use
900 MHz n8 Not In Use Future Future
2100 MHz n1 Future Not In Use Future
2300 MHz n40 Future Not In Use Not In Use
2600 MHz n7 Not In Use Recommended Not In Use
3500 MHz n78 Recommended Recommended Recommended
  • Essential: These bands are essential to access as much 4G LTE coverage as possible in the long term.
  • Recommended: These bands are currently used to provide additional capacity in high-demand areas.
  • Future: These bands could be used in the future, based on the author's speculation.
  • Not In Use: These bands are, as far as the author is aware, not in use and the author has no expectation of these bands being used in the foreseeable future.

Band 28 (700 MHz)

Network Spark One 2degrees
Technology LTE LTE LTE
DL ARFCN 9310 9485 9610
UL ARFCN 27310 27485 27610
DL Frequency (MHz) 768 785.5 798
UL Frequency (MHz) 713 730.5 743
Bandwidth (MHz) 20 15 10

Band 5 (850 MHz)

Network Spark Spark
(Unused)
Technology NR n/a
DL ARFCN 174970 n/a
UL ARFCN 165970 n/a
DL Frequency (MHz) 874.85 n/a
UL Frequency (MHz) 829.85 n/a
Bandwidth (MHz) 10 5

Band 8 (900 MHz)

Network 2degrees
(Satellite)		 2degrees
(Terrestrial)		 One
(Unused)		 One
Technology TBC LTE n/a LTE
DL ARFCN TBC 3622 n/a 3748
UL ARFCN TBC 21622 n/a 21748
DL Frequency (MHz) TBC 942.2 n/a 954.8
UL Frequency (MHz) TBC 897.2 n/a 909.8
Bandwidth (MHz) 5 5 5 10

Band 3 (1800 MHz)

Network 2degrees Crown
(Unused)		 Spark One One
(Unused)
Technology LTE n/a LTE LTE n/a
DL ARFCN 1300 n/a 1600 1800 n/a
UL ARFCN 19300 n/a 19600 19800 n/a
DL Frequency (MHz) 1815 n/a 1845 1865 n/a
UL Frequency (MHz) 1720 n/a 1750 1770 n/a
Bandwidth (MHz) 20 10 20 20 5

Band 1 (2100 MHz)

Network One Spark Hautaki
(Unused)		 2degrees(#)
Technology LTE LTE n/a LTE
DL ARFCN 100 275 n/a 500
UL ARFCN 18100 18275 n/a 18500
DL Frequency (MHz) 2120 2137.5 n/a 2160
UL Frequency (MHz) 1930 1947.5 n/a 1970
Bandwidth (MHz) 20 15 5 20(*)

Note (#): 2degrees use a combination of Hautaki (2150–2160 MHz) and Tū Ātea (2160–2170 MHz) management rights.

Note (*): Some 2degrees L2100 sites operate with 10 MHz bandwidth instead of the expected 20 MHz.

Band 40 (2300 MHz, TDD)

Network Spark
(Unused)		 Spark Tū Ātea
(Unused)		 Crown
(Unused)
Technology n/a LTE LTE LTE n/a n/a
ARFCN n/a 38854 39052 39250 n/a n/a
Frequency (MHz) n/a 2320.4 2340.2 2360 n/a n/a
Bandwidth (MHz) 10 20 20 20 25 5

Note: The author has received reports of Spark operating 50 MHz of NR 5G at ARFCN 464910 (2324.55 MHz). As Spark has rights to 70 MHz in this band, this suggests Spark's plan is to allocate 50 MHz to NR and the remaining 20 MHz to LTE. The author has also received reports of 60 MHz at ARFCN 466850.

Band 7 (2600 MHz)

Network One
(Satellite)		 One
(Terrestrial 5G)		 Spark One
(Terrestrial 4G)
Technology LTE NR LTE LTE
DL ARFCN 2825 528970 3200 3375
UL ARFCN 20825 504970 21200 21375
DL Frequency (MHz) 2627.5 2644.85 2665 2682.5
UL Frequency (MHz) 2507.5 2524.85 2545 2562.5
Bandwidth (MHz) 15 20 20 15

Note: One partners with Starlink (SpaceX) to provide direct-to-cell 4G LTE services. Some Starlink satellites operate 5 MHz at EARFCN 2775 (instead of 15 MHz at EARFCN 2825).

Band 78 (3500 MHz)

Network Crown
(Unused)		 One 2degrees Spark Tū Ātea
(Unused)
Technology n/a NR NR NR n/a
ARFCN n/a 633312 638688 643968 n/a
Frequency (MHz) n/a 3499.68 3580.32 3659.52 n/a
Bandwidth (MHz) 160 80 80 80 100

Note: There are reports that Spark has upgraded their spectrum to 100 MHz.