ARFCN

The Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN) is a unique number given to each

radio channel in GSM. The ARFCN can be used to calculate the exact frequency of the radio

channel.

Within the GSM900 band ARFCN 1 to 124 are used. In the GSM1800 band ARFCN 512 to 885

are used. The ARFCNs used in GSM1900 overlap with the ARFCNs used in GSM1800. In

GSM1900, ARFCN 512 to 810 are used. A multiband mobile phone will interpret ARFCN

numbers 512 to 810 as either GSM1800 or GSM1900 frequencies. The mobile phone will need

an additional parameter BAND_INDICATOR to make the correct interpretation.

A complete list of the ARFCNs and the associated radiochannels is given in the table below.

Band Name ARFCN Uplink

(MHz)

Downlink

(MHz)

GSM400 GSM450 259 ≤ n ≤ 293 450.6 + 0,2×(n-259) fup(n) + 10

GSM480 306 ≤ n ≤ 340 479.0 + 0,2×(n-306) fup(n) + 10

GSM700 GSM750 438 ≤ n ≤ 511 747.2 + 0.2×(n-438) fup(n) + 30

GSM850 GSM850 128 ≤ n ≤ 251 824.2 + 0.2×(n-128) fup(n) + 45

GSM900

Primary GSM 1 ≤ n ≤ 124 890 + 0.2×n fup(n) + 45

Extended GSM 0 ≤ n ≤ 124

975 ≤ n ≤ 1023

890 + 0.2×n

890 + 0.2×(n-1024)

fup(n) + 45

GSM Rail 0 ≤ n ≤ 124

955 ≤ n ≤ 1023

890 + 0.2×n

890 + 0.2×(n-1024)

fup(n) + 45

GSM1800 GSM1800

(DCS1800)

512 ≤ n ≤ 885 1710.2 + 0.2×(n-512) fup(n) + 95

GSM1900 GSM1900

(PCS1900)

512 ≤ n ≤ 810 1850.2 + 0.2×(n-512) fup(n) + 80

ARFCN RX/UL TX/DL DUPLX GSM

1 880 925 45 Indosat

2 881 926 45

3 882 927 45

4 883 928 45

5 884 929 45

6 885 930 45

124 1003 1048 45

DCS

ARFCN RX/UL TX/DL

1 1710 1805

2 1711 1806

3 1712 1807

4 1713 1807

5 1714 1809

6 1715 1810