L band

L band Frequency range IEEE: ~1 – 2 GHz NATO: 40 – 60 GHz

ITU Radio Band Numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ITU Radio Band Symbols ELF SLF ULF VLF LF MF HF VHF UHF SHF EHF THF NATO Radio bands A B C D E F G H I J K L M IEEE Radar bands HF VHF UHF L S C X Ku K Ka Q V W

L band refers to four different bands of the electromagnetic spectrum: 40 to 60 GHz (NATO), 1 to 2 GHz (IEEE), 1565 nm to 1625 nm (optical), and around 3.5 micrometres (infrared astronomy).

NATO L band

The NATO L band is defined as the frequency band between 40 and 60 GHz (5–7.5 mm).

IEEE L band

Military use

In the United States and overseas territories, the L band is held by the military for telemetry, thereby forcing digital radio to in-band on-channel (IBOC) solutions. Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is typically done in the 1452–1492-MHz range as in most of the world, but other countries also use VHF and UHF bands.

GNSS

The Global Positioning System carriers are in the L band, centered at 1176.45 MHz (L5), 1227.60 MHz (L2), 1381.05 MHz (L3), and 1575.42 MHz (L1) frequencies.

• The Galileo Navigation System uses the L-band similarly to GPS.
• The GLONASS System uses the L-band similarly to GPS.

Telecommunications use

GSM mobile phones operate at 800–900 and 1800–1900 MHz. Iridium Satellite LLC phones use frequencies between 1616 and 1626.5 MHz to communicate with the satellites. Inmarsat and LightSquared terminals use frequencies between 1525 and 1646.5 MHz to communicate with the satellites.

Amateur radio

The Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union allow amateur radio operations in the frequency range 1,240 to 1,300 MHz, and amateur satellite up-links are allowed in the range 1,260 to 1,270 MHz. This is known as the 23-centimeter band by amateurs and the L-band by AMSAT.

Digital Audio Broadcasting (Earth Orbital)

WorldSpace satellite radio broadcasts in the 1467–1492 MHz L sub-band.

DAB L band usage

The following blocks are used for T-DAB (terrestrial) broadcasts:

Block	Center Frequency
LA	1452.960 MHz
LB	1454.672 MHz
LC	1456.384 MHz
LD	1458.096 MHz
LE	1459.808 MHz
LF	1461.520 MHz
LG	1463.232 MHz
LH	1464.944 MHz
LI	1466.656 MHz
LJ	1468.368 MHz
LK	1470.080 MHz
LL	1471.792 MHz
LM	1473.504 MHz
LN	1475.216 MHz
LO	1476.928 MHz
LP	1478.640 MHz

The following blocks are used for S-DAB (satellite) broadcasts:

Block	Center Frequency
LQ	1480.352 MHz
LR	1482.064 MHz
LS	1483.776 MHz
LT	1485.488 MHz
LU	1487.200 MHz
LV	1488.912 MHz
LW	1490.624 MHz

Note: Canada uses slightly different central frequencies for L-band DAB while in many European countries DAB is limited part of Band III due to television and mobile two way radio using the rest.

Physics issues relating to band use

The band also contains the hyperfine transition of neutral hydrogen (the hydrogen line, 1420 MHz), which is of great astronomical interest as a means of imaging the normally invisible neutral atomic hydrogen in interstellar space. Consequently parts of the L-band are protected radio astronomy allocations worldwide.

Optical communications L band

L band is also used in optical communications to refer to the wavelength range 1565 nm to 1625 nm.

Infrared astronomy

Atmospheric windows in the infrared. The L band is the transmission window centred on 3.5 micrometres

In infrared astronomy, the L band refers to an atmospheric transmission window centred on 3.5 micrometres (in the mid-infrared).

Other microwave bands

The microwave spectrum is usually defined as electromagnetic energy ranging from approximately 1 GHz to 100 GHz in frequency, but older usage includes lower frequencies. Most common applications are within the 1 to 40 GHz range. Microwave frequency bands, as defined by the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), are shown in the table below:

L band	1 to 2 GHz
S band	2 to 4 GHz
C band	4 to 8 GHz
X band	8 to 12 GHz
Ku band	12 to 18 GHz
K band	18 to 26.5 GHz
Ka band	26.5 to 40 GHz
Q band	30 to 50 GHz
U band	40 to 60 GHz
V band	50 to 75 GHz
E band	60 to 90 GHz
W band	75 to 110 GHz
F band	90 to 140 GHz
D band	110 to 170 GHz

Footnote: P band is sometimes incorrectly used for Ku Band. "P" for "previous" was a radar band used in the UK ranging from 250 to 500 MHz and now obsolete per IEEE Std 521, see [1] and [2]. For other definitions see Letter Designations of Microwave Bands

See also

• Earth observation satellites transmission frequencies