5G NR-ARFCN Calculator
Convert 5G NR-ARFCN to frequency, or a frequency to its NR-ARFCN, using the 3GPP global frequency raster, with FR1 band matches.
What NR-ARFCN is
NR-ARFCN is the channel number 5G NR uses to reference a carrier frequency, replacing LTE's per-band EARFCN with one number space for the entire NR spectrum, defined in 3GPP TS 38.101-1.
Global raster concept
The formula is F(MHz) = F_REF_Offs + ΔF_Global × (N_REF - N_REF_Offs). ΔF_Global switches from 5 kHz to 15 kHz at 3 GHz, and to 60 kHz above 24.25 GHz, so the same NR-ARFCN number space covers every band without per-band offsets.
FR1
FR1 spans roughly 410 MHz to 7.125 GHz and hosts the sub-6 GHz bands most operators deploy today: n1, n3, n28 for coverage, n77/n78 for mid-band capacity.
FR2
FR2 covers mmWave frequencies above 24.25 GHz, used where very high throughput over short range is needed. This calculator's band table focuses on FR1, the frequency range used in the overwhelming majority of live 5G deployments.
Difference between LTE EARFCN and NR-ARFCN
EARFCN needs to know the band to compute a frequency, because each band has its own offset. NR-ARFCN does not, the global raster resolves any NR-ARFCN to exactly one frequency; only afterwards do you check which band(s) that frequency falls into.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is NR-ARFCN?
NR-ARFCN is the 5G NR equivalent of EARFCN, a channel number that identifies a specific carrier frequency, defined in 3GPP TS 38.101-1 table 5.4.2.1-1.
What is the global frequency raster?
Unlike LTE, 5G NR uses one shared numbering scheme, the global frequency raster, across every band. The step size (ΔF_Global) depends on the frequency range: 5 kHz below 3 GHz, 15 kHz from 3 GHz to 24.25 GHz, and 60 kHz above that for FR2 mmWave.
What is FR1?
FR1 (Frequency Range 1) covers sub-6 GHz NR bands, roughly 410 MHz to 7.125 GHz, where most current 5G deployments like n1, n78 and n28 operate.
What is FR2?
FR2 (Frequency Range 2) covers mmWave bands above 24.25 GHz, used for very high capacity, short-range 5G deployments. This calculator focuses on FR1, the bands used in the vast majority of live 5G networks.
What is the difference between LTE EARFCN and NR-ARFCN?
EARFCN uses a per-band offset and 100 kHz LTE raster. NR-ARFCN uses one global raster shared by all NR bands with a variable step size, so the same NR-ARFCN always maps to exactly one frequency, independent of band.
A question about this calculator, or a band missing?
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