L-Band: licence timescales

Related material

The graphs show the licence start and expiry dates for public networks in this band. Sourcing is here - see also notes at the bottom of the page.

May 23, 2025 | Richard Haas

When licences were issued in this band

When licences expire in this band

Notes

Regional assignments for public networks are included in the graphs above but where an operator has been awarded multiple licences in the same band covering different parts of the country, this is counted only once. This is to create a better comparison with the majority of countries where national licences are used rather than, for example, individual licences for hundreds of small counties.
Perpetual licences like those awarded in the USA and UK will appear in the”When issued” graph but not in the expiries graph
Missing data for start dates or expiries are not counted in the total figures
The number of licences issued in all mobile bands is available here
The all assignments and current assignments sections of the database can be filtered to show the results for individual bands

Data in table format

How many of each band awarded in each year

start_date	band	total_awarded
start_date	band	total_awarded
1982	850 MHz	8
1985	850 MHz	8
1990	850 MHz	2
1992	1800 MHz	2
1992	900 MHz	4
1993	1800 MHz	3
1993	900 MHz	9
1994	1800 MHz	4
1994	900 MHz	4
1995	1800 MHz	12
1995	900 MHz	19
1996	1800 MHz	8
1996	900 MHz	8
1997	1800 MHz	2
1997	1900 MHz	4
1997	850 MHz	2
1997	900 MHz	1
1998	1800 MHz	11
1998	850 MHz	1
1998	900 MHz	5
1999	1800 MHz	4
1999	1900 MHz	1
1999	2.1 GHz	8
1999	850 MHz	3
1999	900 MHz	6
2000	1800 MHz	11
2000	2.1 GHz	44
2000	26 GHz	5
2000	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	9
2000	40 GHz	7
2000	850 MHz	6
2000	900 MHz	15
2001	1800 MHz	15
2001	1900 MHz	9
2001	2.1 GHz	49
2001	2.6 GHz	1
2001	26 GHz	2
2001	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	1
2001	40 GHz	1
2001	450 MHz	1
2001	850 MHz	6
2001	900 MHz	15
2002	1800 MHz	4
2002	1900 MHz	1
2002	2.1 GHz	35
2002	26 GHz	1
2002	28 GHz	2
2002	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	28
2002	850 MHz	3
2002	900 MHz	4
2003	1800 MHz	7
2003	1900 MHz	1
2003	2.1 GHz	14
2003	2.3 GHz	1
2003	26 GHz	2
2003	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	6
2003	40 GHz	2
2003	700 MHz	1
2003	850 MHz	2
2003	900 MHz	9
2004	1800 MHz	13
2004	1900 MHz	2
2004	2.1 GHz	15
2004	2.3 GHz	6
2004	2.6 GHz	11
2004	26 GHz	8
2004	28 GHz	1
2004	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	45
2004	40 GHz	8
2004	450 MHz	2
2004	900 MHz	17
2005	1800 MHz	4
2005	1900 MHz	9
2005	2.1 GHz	21
2005	2.3 GHz	3
2005	2.6 GHz	6
2005	26 GHz	2
2005	28 GHz	3
2005	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	33
2005	40 GHz	4
2005	450 MHz	2
2005	700 MHz	1
2005	850 MHz	7
2005	900 MHz	6
2006	1800 MHz	20
2006	1900 MHz	2
2006	2.1 GHz	28
2006	2.3 GHz	2
2006	26 GHz	4
2006	28 GHz	2
2006	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	53
2006	40 GHz	9
2006	410 MHz	1
2006	450 MHz	3
2006	800 MHz	1
2006	850 MHz	5
2006	900 MHz	25
2007	1800 MHz	18
2007	1900 MHz	5
2007	2.1 GHz	34
2007	2.3 GHz	1
2007	2.6 GHz	7
2007	26 GHz	2
2007	28 GHz	2
2007	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	14
2007	40 GHz	2
2007	450 MHz	4
2007	700 MHz	2
2007	800 MHz	2
2007	850 MHz	8
2007	900 MHz	17
2007	AWS-1	13
2008	1800 MHz	9
2008	1900 MHz	3
2008	2.1 GHz	31
2008	2.3 GHz	1
2008	2.6 GHz	11
2008	28 GHz	10
2008	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	22
2008	32 GHz	2
2008	40 GHz	2
2008	700 MHz	26
2008	870 MHz	1
2008	900 MHz	17
2008	AWS-1	36
2009	1800 MHz	16
2009	2.1 GHz	23
2009	2.3 GHz	8
2009	2.6 GHz	8
2009	26 GHz	2
2009	28 GHz	1
2009	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	8
2009	3.7 – 4.2 GHz	1
2009	40 GHz	2
2009	450 MHz	1
2009	700 MHz	2
2009	900 MHz	14
2009	L-Band	1
2010	1800 MHz	9
2010	1900 MHz	2
2010	2.1 GHz	26
2010	2.3 GHz	8
2010	2.6 GHz	36
2010	26 GHz	2
2010	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	22
2010	40 GHz	3
2010	450 MHz	1
2010	800 MHz	3
2010	850 MHz	1
2010	900 MHz	7
2010	AWS-1	2
2011	1800 MHz	22
2011	1900 MHz	4
2011	2.1 GHz	10
2011	2.6 GHz	9
2011	26 GHz	4
2011	28 GHz	1
2011	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	2
2011	40 GHz	5
2011	700 MHz	1
2011	800 MHz	6
2011	850 MHz	6
2011	900 MHz	11
2012	1800 MHz	31
2012	1900 MHz	3
2012	2.1 GHz	12
2012	2.3 GHz	8
2012	2.6 GHz	44
2012	26 GHz	9
2012	28 GHz	6
2012	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	8
2012	40 GHz	8
2012	450 MHz	5
2012	700 MHz	1
2012	800 MHz	17
2012	900 MHz	24
2012	AWS-1	3
2013	1800 MHz	55
2013	1900 MHz	7
2013	2.1 GHz	24
2013	2.3 GHz	3
2013	2.6 GHz	36
2013	26 GHz	1
2013	28 GHz	2
2013	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	6
2013	40 GHz	2
2013	450 MHz	2
2013	700 MHz	7
2013	800 MHz	34
2013	850 MHz	6
2013	900 MHz	18
2013	AWS-1	5
2014	1800 MHz	31
2014	1900 MHz	8
2014	2.1 GHz	19
2014	2.3 GHz	3
2014	2.6 GHz	28
2014	26 GHz	2
2014	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	9
2014	450 MHz	1
2014	700 MHz	24
2014	800 MHz	23
2014	850 MHz	3
2014	900 MHz	24
2014	AWS-1	8
2015	1800 MHz	29
2015	1900 MHz	5
2015	2.1 GHz	3
2015	2.6 GHz	37
2015	26 GHz	4
2015	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	7
2015	40 GHz	2
2015	700 MHz	7
2015	800 MHz	20
2015	850 MHz	2
2015	900 MHz	8
2015	AWS-1	2
2015	AWS-3	28
2015	L-Band	3
2016	1800 MHz	36
2016	1900 MHz	3
2016	2.1 GHz	33
2016	2.3 GHz	6
2016	2.6 GHz	40
2016	26 GHz	4
2016	28 GHz	7
2016	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	19
2016	40 GHz	2
2016	450 MHz	2
2016	700 MHz	10
2016	800 MHz	26
2016	850 MHz	1
2016	900 MHz	23
2016	AWS-1	4
2016	AWS-3	1
2016	L-Band	2
2017	1800 MHz	22
2017	2.1 GHz	17
2017	2.3 GHz	4
2017	2.6 GHz	17
2017	26 GHz	3
2017	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	6
2017	700 MHz	10
2017	800 MHz	5
2017	900 MHz	20
2017	AWS-1	1
2018	1800 MHz	19
2018	2.1 GHz	28
2018	2.3 GHz	13
2018	2.6 GHz	10
2018	28 GHz	3
2018	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	14
2018	3.7 – 4.2 GHz	1
2018	40 GHz	1
2018	450 MHz	1
2018	700 MHz	17
2018	800 MHz	7
2018	900 MHz	2
2018	AWS-3	2
2019	1800 MHz	14
2019	2.1 GHz	13
2019	2.3 GHz	1
2019	2.6 GHz	13
2019	26 GHz	37
2019	28 GHz	65
2019	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	51
2019	3.7 – 4.2 GHz	6
2019	4.5 GHz	1
2019	4.9 GHz	2
2019	600 MHz	42
2019	700 MHz	19
2019	800 MHz	8
2019	900 MHz	18
2019	AWS-3	1
2019	L-Band	3
2020	1800 MHz	9
2020	2.1 GHz	9
2020	2.3 GHz	5
2020	2.6 GHz	13
2020	26 GHz	16
2020	28 GHz	4
2020	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	160
2020	4.9 GHz	1
2020	40 GHz	91
2020	410 MHz	1
2020	450 MHz	2
2020	47 GHz	18
2020	600 MHz	10
2020	700 MHz	25
2020	800 MHz	2
2020	850 MHz	1
2020	900 MHz	14
2020	L-Band	3
2021	1800 MHz	42
2021	1900 MHz	2
2021	2.1 GHz	37
2021	2.3 GHz	10
2021	2.6 GHz	14
2021	26 GHz	34
2021	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	181
2021	3.7 – 4.2 GHz	1
2021	32 GHz	1
2021	4.9 GHz	2
2021	450 MHz	2
2021	700 MHz	36
2021	800 MHz	5
2021	850 MHz	3
2021	900 MHz	25
2021	AWS-1	2
2021	AWS-3	1
2021	L-Band	9
2022	1800 MHz	20
2022	2.1 GHz	33
2022	2.3 GHz	5
2022	2.6 GHz	33
2022	26 GHz	4
2022	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	73
2022	450 MHz	1
2022	700 MHz	30
2022	800 MHz	5
2022	900 MHz	11
2022	L-Band	6
2023	1800 MHz	8
2023	2.1 GHz	32
2023	2.3 GHz	5
2023	2.6 GHz	18
2023	26 GHz	19
2023	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	48
2023	3.7 – 4.2 GHz	24
2023	32 GHz	1
2023	600 MHz	4
2023	700 MHz	32
2023	800 MHz	13
2023	850 MHz	1
2023	900 MHz	6
2023	AWS-3	2
2023	L-Band	2
2024	1800 MHz	21
2024	2.1 GHz	15
2024	2.3 GHz	2
2024	2.6 GHz	12
2024	26 GHz	4
2024	28 GHz	1
2024	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	50
2024	4.9 GHz	1
2024	600 MHz	1
2024	700 MHz	14
2024	800 MHz	4
2024	850 MHz	3
2024	900 MHz	23
2025	2.1 GHz	1
2025	2.3 GHz	13
2025	2.6 GHz	1
2025	26 GHz	2
2025	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	18
2025	3.7 – 4.2 GHz	2
2025	6 GHz	3
2025	600 MHz	2
2025	700 MHz	17
2025	850 MHz	1
2025	900 MHz	10
2025	L-band	2
2026	2.1 GHz	4
2026	2.6 GHz	5
2026	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	3
2026	900 MHz	2
2026	L-Band	1

How many of each band expired in each year

year	band	total_expired
year	band	total_expired
2013	26 GHz	2
2013	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	1
2013	450 MHz	1
2014	1800 MHz	2
2014	2.1 GHz	1
2014	410 MHz	1
2014	900 MHz	3
2015	1800 MHz	17
2015	1900 MHz	4
2015	2.1 GHz	2
2015	2.3 GHz	4
2015	2.6 GHz	6
2015	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	14
2015	40 GHz	1
2015	410 MHz	1
2015	700 MHz	1
2015	850 MHz	1
2015	900 MHz	12
2016	1800 MHz	15
2016	1900 MHz	1
2016	2.1 GHz	19
2016	2.6 GHz	6
2016	26 GHz	3
2016	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	35
2016	40 GHz	1
2016	450 MHz	1
2016	850 MHz	2
2016	900 MHz	14
2017	1800 MHz	26
2017	2.1 GHz	15
2017	2.6 GHz	3
2017	26 GHz	2
2017	28 GHz	3
2017	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	24
2017	40 GHz	1
2017	700 MHz	2
2017	850 MHz	2
2017	900 MHz	27
2018	1800 MHz	11
2018	1900 MHz	1
2018	2.1 GHz	19
2018	2.3 GHz	1
2018	2.6 GHz	1
2018	26 GHz	6
2018	28 GHz	1
2018	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	8
2018	40 GHz	1
2018	700 MHz	24
2018	850 MHz	1
2018	900 MHz	13
2019	1800 MHz	18
2019	2.1 GHz	14
2019	2.3 GHz	13
2019	2.6 GHz	2
2019	26 GHz	10
2019	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	50
2019	3.7 – 4.2 GHz	1
2019	40 GHz	8
2019	450 MHz	1
2019	700 MHz	4
2019	900 MHz	19
2020	1800 MHz	6
2020	1900 MHz	1
2020	2.1 GHz	44
2020	2.6 GHz	3
2020	26 GHz	2
2020	28 GHz	6
2020	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	44
2020	3.7 – 4.2 GHz	1
2020	40 GHz	7
2020	450 MHz	1
2020	850 MHz	4
2020	900 MHz	7
2020	L-Band	1
2021	1800 MHz	24
2021	1900 MHz	5
2021	2.1 GHz	49
2021	2.6 GHz	1
2021	26 GHz	11
2021	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	85
2021	450 MHz	1
2021	850 MHz	8
2021	900 MHz	23
2022	1800 MHz	18
2022	1900 MHz	1
2022	2.1 GHz	37
2022	2.6 GHz	9
2022	26 GHz	83
2022	28 GHz	22
2022	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	53
2022	450 MHz	4
2022	850 MHz	3
2022	900 MHz	18
2023	1800 MHz	11
2023	1900 MHz	1
2023	2.1 GHz	23
2023	2.3 GHz	1
2023	2.6 GHz	1
2023	26 GHz	1
2023	28 GHz	3
2023	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	8
2023	32 GHz	1
2023	40 GHz	1
2023	700 MHz	2
2023	800 MHz	4
2023	850 MHz	3
2023	900 MHz	7
2024	1800 MHz	13
2024	2.1 GHz	28
2024	2.6 GHz	11
2024	26 GHz	4
2024	28 GHz	4
2024	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	2
2024	40 GHz	2
2024	450 MHz	1
2024	700 MHz	1
2024	800 MHz	7
2024	900 MHz	18
2025	1800 MHz	12
2025	1900 MHz	5
2025	2.1 GHz	24
2025	2.3 GHz	2
2025	2.6 GHz	16
2025	26 GHz	9
2025	28 GHz	1
2025	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	19
2025	40 GHz	8
2025	450 MHz	3
2025	800 MHz	3
2025	850 MHz	7
2025	900 MHz	26
2026	1800 MHz	37
2026	2.1 GHz	27
2026	2.6 GHz	10
2026	26 GHz	5
2026	28 GHz	4
2026	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	121
2026	40 GHz	2
2026	450 MHz	2
2026	700 MHz	3
2026	800 MHz	3
2026	850 MHz	3
2026	900 MHz	25
2027	1800 MHz	25
2027	1900 MHz	6
2027	2.1 GHz	16
2027	2.3 GHz	3
2027	2.6 GHz	27
2027	26 GHz	5
2027	28 GHz	7
2027	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	2
2027	40 GHz	3
2027	450 MHz	4
2027	800 MHz	6
2027	850 MHz	5
2027	900 MHz	16
2027	AWS-3	19
2028	1800 MHz	43
2028	2.1 GHz	19
2028	2.6 GHz	24
2028	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	10
2028	40 GHz	2
2028	800 MHz	8
2028	850 MHz	8
2028	870 MHz	1
2028	900 MHz	10
2028	AWS-1	1
2029	1800 MHz	25
2029	1900 MHz	2
2029	2.1 GHz	21
2029	2.3 GHz	1
2029	2.6 GHz	35
2029	26 GHz	29
2029	28 GHz	70
2029	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	6
2029	32 GHz	1
2029	40 GHz	1
2029	700 MHz	9
2029	800 MHz	25
2029	850 MHz	2
2029	900 MHz	34
2029	AWS-1	2
2029	L-Band	2
2030	1800 MHz	16
2030	1900 MHz	1
2030	2.1 GHz	15
2030	2.3 GHz	12
2030	2.6 GHz	45
2030	26 GHz	2
2030	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	101
2030	40 GHz	93
2030	47 GHz	18
2030	700 MHz	3
2030	800 MHz	7
2030	850 MHz	2
2030	900 MHz	17
2030	AWS-1	3
2030	AWS-3	1
2031	1800 MHz	18
2031	1900 MHz	2
2031	2.1 GHz	31
2031	2.3 GHz	2
2031	2.6 GHz	20
2031	26 GHz	3
2031	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	3
2031	40 GHz	1
2031	450 MHz	1
2031	700 MHz	2
2031	800 MHz	3
2031	850 MHz	2
2031	900 MHz	19
2031	L-Band	2
2032	1800 MHz	10
2032	2.1 GHz	25
2032	2.6 GHz	14
2032	26 GHz	3
2032	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	15
2032	700 MHz	7
2032	800 MHz	7
2032	900 MHz	9
2033	1800 MHz	26
2033	2.1 GHz	11
2033	2.3 GHz	2
2033	2.6 GHz	17
2033	26 GHz	6
2033	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	7
2033	450 MHz	1
2033	700 MHz	10
2033	800 MHz	19
2033	850 MHz	1
2033	900 MHz	23
2033	AWS-1	2
2034	1800 MHz	23
2034	2.1 GHz	8
2034	2.3 GHz	1
2034	2.6 GHz	12
2034	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	7
2034	4.9 GHz	2
2034	700 MHz	14
2034	800 MHz	13
2034	900 MHz	21
2034	L-Band	3
2035	1800 MHz	2
2035	2.1 GHz	2
2035	2.6 GHz	22
2035	26 GHz	3
2035	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	21
2035	410 MHz	1
2035	700 MHz	18
2035	800 MHz	8
2035	900 MHz	1
2035	AWS-3	9
2036	1800 MHz	13
2036	1900 MHz	4
2036	2.1 GHz	12
2036	2.6 GHz	11
2036	26 GHz	23
2036	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	17
2036	3.7 – 4.2 GHz	1
2036	4.9 GHz	2
2036	700 MHz	18
2036	800 MHz	3
2036	850 MHz	3
2036	900 MHz	10
2036	AWS-1	2
2036	L-Band	3
2037	1800 MHz	20
2037	2.1 GHz	20
2037	2.3 GHz	8
2037	2.6 GHz	7
2037	26 GHz	5
2037	28 GHz	2
2037	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	50
2037	40 GHz	1
2037	700 MHz	4
2037	800 MHz	1
2037	850 MHz	1
2037	900 MHz	4
2038	1800 MHz	1
2038	2.1 GHz	6
2038	2.6 GHz	8
2038	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	27
2038	3.7 – 4.2 GHz	24
2038	700 MHz	26
2038	800 MHz	3
2038	900 MHz	1
2038	AWS-3	2
2039	1800 MHz	6
2039	2.1 GHz	7
2039	2.3 GHz	2
2039	2.6 GHz	7
2039	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	67
2039	3.7 – 4.2 GHz	2
2039	450 MHz	1
2039	600 MHz	49
2039	700 MHz	19
2039	800 MHz	4
2039	900 MHz	5
2040	1800 MHz	5
2040	2.1 GHz	9
2040	2.3 GHz	9
2040	2.6 GHz	5
2040	26 GHz	3
2040	28 GHz	4
2040	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	27
2040	4.9 GHz	1
2040	6 GHz	3
2040	700 MHz	26
2040	800 MHz	3
2040	850 MHz	1
2040	900 MHz	5
2040	L-Band	3
2041	1800 MHz	30
2041	1900 MHz	1
2041	2.1 GHz	13
2041	2.3 GHz	10
2041	2.6 GHz	10
2041	26 GHz	4
2041	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	139
2041	700 MHz	14
2041	800 MHz	4
2041	850 MHz	2
2041	900 MHz	16
2042	1800 MHz	8
2042	2.1 GHz	12
2042	2.3 GHz	3
2042	2.6 GHz	5
2042	26 GHz	18
2042	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	14
2042	450 MHz	1
2042	700 MHz	19
2042	800 MHz	1
2042	900 MHz	6
2042	L-Band	8
2043	1800 MHz	3
2043	2.1 GHz	6
2043	2.3 GHz	1
2043	2.6 GHz	1
2043	26 GHz	4
2043	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	11
2043	800 MHz	5
2043	900 MHz	4
2043	AWS-3	2
2044	1800 MHz	13
2044	2.1 GHz	7
2044	2.6 GHz	2
2044	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	19
2044	450 MHz	1
2044	700 MHz	2
2044	850 MHz	2
2044	900 MHz	19
2044	L-Band	4
2045	2.3 GHz	1
2045	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	7
2046	26 GHz	3
2047	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	3
2047	700 MHz	3
2048	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	5
2048	700 MHz	2
2048	900 MHz	3
2048	L-Band	1
2050	2.1 GHz	3
2050	2.6 GHz	4
2050	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	2
2050	700 MHz	1
2050	L-band	1
2051	26 GHz	3
2051	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	3
2051	700 MHz	1
2051	AWS-3	1
2099	26 GHz	5
2099	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	9
2100	2.6 GHz	1
2100	3.3 – 3.8 GHz	1
2100	40 GHz	1