Satellite frequency allocations vary by ITU Region in the frequency ranges allocated to a service, its primary or secondary status, and country-specific footnotes. National rules then determine how those allocations apply at a particular site [1]. For example, the planned broadcasting-satellite service (BSS) downlink bands are 11.7–12.5 GHz in Region 1, 12.2–12.7 GHz in Region 2, and 11.7–12.2 GHz in Region 3 [2]. These are service-specific plan bands, not the complete satellite spectrum available in each Region.
Table of Contents
Which Region Is Your Country In
Region 1 broadly covers Europe, Africa, much of the Middle East, and the whole territories of Russia, Turkey, Mongolia, and the Central Asian states named in the regional definition. Region 2 broadly covers the Americas. Region 3 covers much of Asia and the Pacific, including Iran. Iran is entirely in Region 3, not split between Regions 1 and 3. The formal boundaries follow Lines A, B, and C with named territorial exceptions, so continent labels alone are not enough [1].
| ITU Region | Broad coverage | Planned BSS downlink band |
|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Europe, Africa, much of the Middle East, Russia, Mongolia, and specified Central Asian states | 11.7–12.5 GHz (800 MHz) |
| Region 2 | The Americas | 12.2–12.7 GHz (500 MHz) |
| Region 3 | Much of Asia and the Pacific, including Iran, with the Region 1 exceptions above | 11.7–12.2 GHz (500 MHz) |
The Same Service on Different Frequencies
The BSS comparison above shows both a change in band edges and a change in total span. Subtracting the edges gives 800 MHz for Region 1 and 500 MHz each for Regions 2 and 3. A plan’s total span is not bandwidth available to one customer: the plans reserve resources for countries, and not every planned resource is in operation [2].
Feeder links use separate bands from the consumer downlink. ITU’s 2024 overview lists 17.3–18.1 GHz feeder-link plans for Regions 1 and 3 and 14.5–14.8 GHz for those Regions except Europe [2]. A downlink frequency therefore does not identify the matching uplink.
Letter-band names are broader than these service bands. ESA’s general guide calls Ku 12–18 GHz and Ka 26–40 GHz [3]. Yet the FCC’s conventional Ku definition includes an 11.7–12.2 GHz downlink, and its conventional Ka definition includes downlinks below 26 GHz. Use the stated frequencies and service definition, not the letter alone [4].
US Band Definitions Within Region 2
The FCC definitions below show how one country’s satellite terminology divides Ku and Ka. They describe service bands; they are not a complete national allocation table or permission to operate [4].
| FCC category | Downlink | Uplink | Span by subtraction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional Ku | 11.7–12.2 GHz | 14.0–14.5 GHz | 500 MHz each |
| Extended Ku | 10.95–11.2 GHz and 11.45–11.7 GHz | 13.75–14.0 GHz | 250 + 250 MHz down, 250 MHz up |
| Conventional Ka | 18.3–18.8 GHz and 19.7–20.2 GHz | 28.35–28.6 GHz and 29.25–30.0 GHz | 500 + 500 MHz down, 250 + 750 MHz up |
| Direct Broadcast Satellite | 12.2–12.7 GHz | Feeder link not specified in this row | 500 MHz down |
Conventional Ku fixed-satellite service and DBS are different service categories, even though both use frequencies commonly described as Ku-band. In the United States, transmitting space or earth stations must operate under an appropriate FCC authorization. A frequency appearing in a definition does not grant that authorization [5].
When Satellite Frequencies Stay the Same Across Regions
Not every satellite signal changes frequency at an ITU boundary. GPS L1C uses the same L1 frequency as the legacy L1 C/A signal, described by GPS.gov as approximately 1575 MHz. Its design supports interoperability with other navigation systems, including Galileo [6]. GPS illustrates a shared signal frequency across Regions, not a rule that all satellite navigation systems use identical signals.
Why C-Band Needs a Country-Level Check
The FCC defines conventional C-band fixed-satellite service as 3700–4200 MHz down and 5925–6425 MHz up [4]. But the full defined range is not a reliable guide to present-day availability at a particular US site.
The FCC’s July 2026 C-band order records that the earlier lower-band transition moved satellite operations into 4.0–4.2 GHz in the contiguous United States. It also establishes a further Upper C-band reconfiguration and transition framework. The order distinguishes the contiguous United States from areas outside it [7]. Do not assume the new transition is already complete, or apply the contiguous-US outcome to every Region 2 location.
Why Regions Get Different Allocations
The allocation framework allows differences at several levels.
- Regional columns. A service may appear in one Region’s column but not another’s. Primary services appear in capitals; secondary services must not cause harmful interference to primary services and cannot claim protection from them [1].
- Footnotes. A footnote can add a service in one country or replace the entry for that country [1].
- Planned resources. BSS and feeder-link plans reserve resources for ITU Member States to support equitable access, including future use. A planned resource is not necessarily an operating network [2].
What Regional Gaps Mean for Antennas
For a worked comparison, assume a receive chain is specified only for 11.7–12.5 GHz and a target DBS service requires 12.2–12.7 GHz. These ranges share 12.2–12.5 GHz, a span of 300 MHz. The target’s remaining 12.5–12.7 GHz, or 200 MHz, lies outside the assumed equipment specification. The band edges come from the regional BSS plans; the equipment specification is an illustrative assumption, not a measured product result [2].
In that scenario, a shared Ku-band label is not enough to approve reuse. Check the specified operating range of each feedhorn, OMT, diplexer, and LNB in the receive path. Compare the waveguide size and interfaces as well. Published options in Dolph Microwave’s SATCOM antenna range provide a starting point for a specification check, not proof that a particular configuration is suitable or authorized.
Buying Checklist
- Ask the operator for the actual receive and transmit ranges and polarization, not just a band name.
- Check the LNB local oscillator and receiver IF range against the required downlink frequencies. RF coverage alone does not establish receiver compatibility.
- For a reused terminal, record which components cover the new service and which need replacement. Check transmit-path specifications separately from receive-path specifications.
How to Check Your Region’s Allocation
Start with the site’s country and its ITU Region. In the international table, compare the relevant frequency row across the three regional columns, then read its service status and footnotes. An entry spanning all three columns indicates a worldwide allocation; one confined to particular columns indicates a regional allocation [1].
Next, check the national regulator’s table and applicable authorization requirements. Compare those conditions with the operator’s frequency plan and the equipment specifications. In the United States, the requirement for an appropriate transmitting-station authorization is separate from the band definitions [5]. If the documents conflict, resolve the discrepancy with the regulator and operator before transmitting. An operator plan is not regulatory clearance.
If your terminal must work in more than one ITU Region, share your downlink and uplink ranges, polarization, and target countries. Our engineers will match the feed chain to your allocation table.
Include operating frequencies, waveguide size or connector, power level, quantity, and delivery date for a faster review.
References
- International Table of Frequency Allocations and ITU Region definitions, 47 CFR § 2.104 — https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/2.104
- ITU, Introduction to BSS & FSS Plans, World Radiocommunication Seminar 2024 — Regional BSS and feeder-link plan bands and planned resources
- ESA, Satellite frequency bands — General letter-band ranges
- FCC satellite band definitions: conventional and extended C/Ku/Ka-band and 12.2–12.7 GHz DBS, 47 CFR § 25.103 — https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/25.103
- FCC, 47 CFR § 25.102, via Cornell Legal Information Institute — Station authorization required
- GPS.gov, New Civil Signals — L1C frequency and interoperability
- FCC, Upper C-Band order, published July 31, 2026, 91 FR 48700 — Earlier lower-band transition and further Upper C-band framework
