Short answerFor the UK, a 4G router should support at least bands 1, 3, 7, 8 and 20. Band 20 (800MHz) gives the widest coverage, band 3 (1800MHz) carries much of the traffic, and bands 32, 38 and 40 add capacity on some networks. European models of business routers normally cover all of these.
A band is a block of radio frequencies. Each UK network holds spectrum in several bands and uses them together. If your router does not support a band, it simply cannot see that part of the network.
The bands used for 4G in the UK
| Band | Frequency | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 800MHz | FDD | Coverage band. Travels furthest and gets indoors best. Held by all four networks. |
| 8 | 900MHz | FDD | Low band, increasingly used for 4G as older services close. |
| 32 | 1.4GHz (1500MHz) | Download only | Extra download capacity, used by Vodafone and Three alongside another band. |
| 3 | 1800MHz | FDD | A main capacity band in the UK. |
| 1 | 2100MHz | FDD | Former 3G spectrum, now reused for 4G and 5G. |
| 40 | 2300MHz | TDD | Capacity in busy areas, used by O2. |
| 7 | 2600MHz | FDD | High capacity, shorter range. |
| 38 | 2600MHz | TDD | Additional 2.6GHz capacity on some networks. |
Networks re-farm spectrum over time, especially after the 3G switch-off, so exactly which band carries what at a given mast changes. The list above is what to look for on a spec sheet.
Low bands and high bands
Lower frequencies travel further and pass through walls better, but carry less data. Higher frequencies carry more data over shorter distances. That is why a router in a rural cabin often sits on band 20, while the same router in a town centre may use band 3 or 7 and run much faster.
Your router’s status page shows which band it is using. If it is always on band 20 with a weak signal, an external antenna often lets it reach the faster bands as well.
Carrier aggregation
Cat 6 and higher routers can combine two or more bands at once, which is how they reach their higher speeds. This only helps where the network offers the combination at that mast. See LTE categories, and Router Store’s note on the benefits of Cat 6 LTE.
Checking a router
- Look for the LTE FDD and TDD band list on the datasheet.
- Buy the European variant. Global and North American variants can miss UK bands.
- Teltonika and other manufacturers publish full band lists; the Teltonika datasheet for each model shows them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important 4G band in the UK?
For coverage, band 20 (800MHz). For speed, band 3 (1800MHz) and the higher bands. A router needs both.
Can I lock my router to one band?
Many business routers allow band locking. It can help in fringe areas but can also cut you off when the network changes something. Use it with care.
Do 5G bands matter for a 4G router?
No. A 4G router only uses LTE bands. If you want 5G, you need a 5G router.
NANick Appleby
Nick Appleby has worked in UK telecoms since 1998, starting at BT, and has spent most of that time on cellular routers, data SIMs and the antennas that connect them for business and industrial sites. He writes 4G SIM to explain how the networks and the kit actually behave, in plain English.