Cellular frequencies in Switzerland

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In Switzerland , responsibility for mobile radio frequencies lies with the Federal Office of Communications OFCOM and the Federal Communications Commission ComCom . All of the mobile phone frequencies for the Swiss mobile phone market were re-auctioned in February 2012. An auction of further frequencies in the 700 MHz, 1400 MHz and 3500 MHz band for future 5G NR network technologies took place at the end of January 2019. These new additional frequencies are valid until 2034.

The useful life of the frequencies auctioned by Salt Mobile , Sunrise Communications and Swisscom in 2012 ends on December 31, 2028. The long period gives the three mobile network licensees planning security for the long-term fulfillment of their statutory supply mandate for a nationwide mobile network.

The frequencies were awarded in a technology-neutral manner, i. H. the various frequencies can be used for 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G as required - subject to certain OFCOM requirements regarding network coverage rates.

Legal basis

The legal basis in Switzerland is the national frequency allocation plan NaFZ of the Federal Office of Communications, which regulates the distribution of the frequency spectrum to the various radio services.

700 MHz [band 28]

On February 8, 2019, the allocation of frequencies in the context of the 5G auction was announced. The ranges from 703 - 733 MHz and 758 - 788 MHz were assigned as a paired spectrum (2 × 30 MHz frequency duplex). The paired spectrum is distributed among the network operators Salt (2 × 10 MHz), Sunrise (2 × 5 MHz) and Swisscom (2 × 15 MHz). The allocation of the auctioned frequency blocks to the spectrum was still unknown at the time of the notification.

Swisscom uses Band 28 for LTE in isolated cases.

700 MHz [band 67]

In Switzerland, part of the so-called EU 700 frequency range from 738 - 758 MHz is reserved for communication between wireless microphones and for DVB-T, which is why the use of LTE services is currently not planned. According to OFCOM, however, the 700 MHz band will be available for mobile radio use by the beginning of 2020 at the latest, since the SRG will shift / convert the spread of DVB-T to lower frequencies for DVB-T2 by 2018 and also for the use of wireless microphones a new frequency range is planned. Together with the paired spectrum in the 700 MHz band, the frequency range from 738 - 758 MHz (E-UTRA band 67) was auctioned off as a so-called supplemental downlink (SDL) at the beginning of 2019. This should provide additional bandwidth in the downlink. In the SDL, the network operator Sunrise bought 10 MHz at auction, the remaining 5 MHz were not allocated and remain unused for the time being. The allocation of the auctioned frequency blocks to the spectrum was still unknown at the time of the notification.

800 MHz [band 20]

The range around 800 MHz, known as the “digital dividend”, was awarded for the first time in 2012 in OFCOM's frequency auction. The frequency range used to be used for the dissemination of digital broadcasting (DVB-T).

All three network operators secured a spectrum of 20 MHz each, i.e. H. 10 MHz in the downlink, 10 MHz in the uplink and use it throughout Switzerland exclusively for the 4th generation of LTE mobile communications :

OFCOM prescribes LTE800 coverage of 50% of the population by 31 December 2018 as a usage requirement.

900 MHz [band 8]

Swisscom and Sunrise operate across Switzerland on the 900 MHz band in addition to UMTS and GSM , while Salt only uses the spectrum around 900 MHz for 3G . The nationwide UMTS 900 coverage of the rural regions throughout Switzerland is a prerequisite for the disconnection of the GSM / 2G mobile network.

In addition to the three mobile network operators, the range around 900 MHz is also used for the (internationally standardized) railway mobile network GSM-R , which is assigned to the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). The three mobile network operators are obliged by OFCOM's license conditions to provide 50% of the Swiss population with mobile communications services in the frequency range around 900 MHz by the end of 2020.

Sunrise and Swisscom also use band 8 for LTE.

1.4 GHz [band 50 & 51]

At the beginning of 2019, 18 frequency blocks of 5 MHz each (E-UTRA bands 50 and 51) in the 1400 MHz range were auctioned off as a supplemental downlink (SDL). To be able to use these channels, a UL / DL connection must exist in another band. The unpaired spectrum is distributed among the network operators Salt (10 MHz), Sunrise (15 MHz) and Swisscom (50 MHz), the remaining 15 MHz have not been allocated and will remain unused for the time being. The allocation of the auctioned frequency blocks to the spectrum was still unknown at the time of the notification. The use of these frequencies is subject to local restrictions, for example in the vicinity of airports or neighboring countries.

1.8 GHz [band 3]

This range, which was previously used for GSM, is now the most important frequency range for LTE for all three Swiss providers.

2.1 GHz [band 1]

This area previously used for UMTS is now used by all three Swiss providers for LTE. Swisscom switched from 3G to 5G on October 1, 2019.

2.6 GHz [band 7]

In more densely populated areas, Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt also use the 2.6 GHz band for LTE .

A 5 MHz block is free in band 7. Its use for mobile communications can be requested from Bakom. As part of the 5G auction in early 2019, this block was offered, but not auctioned, and remains unused.

3.5 GHz [band 42 & 43]

At the beginning of 2019, 15 frequency blocks of 20 MHz each (E-UTRA bands 42 and 43) in the 3500 MHz range were auctioned off as unpaired spectrum for use in time division multiplex (TDD). The spectrum is distributed among the network operators Salt (80 MHz), Sunrise (100 MHz) and Swisscom (120 MHz), the lower 100 MHz in band 42 were not up for auction. The allocation of the frequency blocks to the spectrum was still unknown at the time of the notification. The use of these frequencies is subject to local restrictions, for example in so-called free zones and in the vicinity of satellite ground stations.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Auction of the mobile radio frequencies in 2012 www.bakom.admin.ch, February 23, 2012, accessed on June 13, 2017.
  2. ↑ Mobile frequencies assigned for 5G in Switzerland www.bakom.admin.ch, February 8, 2018, accessed on October 13, 2019.
  3. ↑ National Frequency Allocation Plan www.bakom.admin.ch, accessed on February 27, 2017.
  4. ↑ a b c d Mobile radio frequencies assigned for 5G in Switzerland. In: www.bakom.admin.ch. February 8, 2019, accessed February 10, 2019 .
  5. ↑ https://mobilecommunity.ch/wbb/index.php?thread/380-neue-lte-b%C3%A4nder-der-swisscom-band-28-lte-700-und-band-8-lte-900 / Mobilecommunity.ch - New LTE bands from Swisscom: Band 28 LTE 700 and Band 8 LTE 900
  6. ↑ Mobile communications in the 700 MHz band: Changes for radio microphones and digital television www.bakom.admin.ch, accessed on June 27, 2016.
  7. ↑ Frequencies and technologies at Swisscom www.swisscom.ch, accessed on April 18, 2016.
  8. ↑ a b Harmonized frequency ranges www.bakom.admin.ch, February 9, 2017, accessed on June 13, 2017.
  9. ↑ Medien-Rohstoff dated February 23, 2012. Results of the autkion of all mobile radio frequencies in Switzerland PDF, page 9, accessed on April 18, 2016.
  10. ↑ https://mobilecommunity.ch/wbb/index.php?thread/380-neue-lte-b%C3%A4nder-der-swisscom-band-28-lte-700-und-band-8-lte-900 / Mobilecommunity.ch - New LTE bands from Swisscom: Band 28 LTE 700 and Band 8 LTE 900
  11. ↑ https://mobilecommunity.ch/wbb/index.php?thread/363-sunrise-nutzt-neu-lte-auch-im-band-1-und-baut-das-band-7-auch-ausserhalb-von -st% C3% A4 / MobileCommunity - Sunrise is now also using LTE in band 1 and is also expanding band 7 outside of cities
  12. ↑ https://mobilecommunity.ch/wbb/index.php?thread/325-lte-2100-band1-von-salt/ MobileCommunity - LTE 2100 (Band1) from Salt
  13. ↑ Replacement of 2G
  14. ↑ change of use of a 3G frequency ; Information for users of affected devices received a corresponding notification by SMS at the beginning of April 2019
  15. ↑ OFCOM - Public consultation - regarding the tender and allocation of new mobile network frequencies in Switzerland - June 2017