Frequencies used for mobile phone technology range from 800MHz to 3.8GHz; with
26GHz and 40GHz coming on stream.
These frequencies have different characteristics and as such have different uses in data
transmission. In fact 4G & 5G uses the extreme frequencies, one low and one high
to be able to match the requirements of the network and the characteristics of the
signals.
- Given a similar input, and a fair environment to transmit, a signal will
deteriorate depending on the number of oscillations, waves. So as a rough estimate
a 800MHx signal will travel over 3 times the distance of a 2.6GHz signal. [A gross
generalisation but OK]. Hence Higher frequencies are more suitable for city use
and lower frequency for more rural environments.
- The amount of data sent, with the same coding scheme, is dependent on the number
of waves per second. So the higher frequency (2.6GHz) will be over 3 times faster
than the lower (800MHz) wavelength.
- Longer wavelengths (lower frequencies - 800MHz) can go through walls better than
shorter wavelengths (higher frequencies 2.6MHz) so indoor use is affected if the longer
wavelength is used.