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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)	f_up(n) + 10
GSM400	GSM480	306 ≤ n ≤ 340	479.0 + 0,2×(n-306)	f_up(n) + 10
GSM700	GSM750	438 ≤ n ≤ 511	747.2 + 0.2×(n-438)	f_up(n) + 30
GSM850	GSM850	128 ≤ n ≤ 251	824.2 + 0.2×(n-128)	f_up(n) + 45
GSM900	Primary GSM	1 ≤ n ≤ 124	890 + 0.2×n	f_up(n) + 45
	Extended GSM	0 ≤ n ≤ 124 975 ≤ n ≤ 1023	890 + 0.2×n 890 + 0.2×(n-1024)	f_up(n) + 45
	GSM Rail	0 ≤ n ≤ 124 955 ≤ n ≤ 1023	890 + 0.2×n 890 + 0.2×(n-1024)	f_up(n) + 45
GSM1800	GSM1800 (DCS1800)	512 ≤ n ≤ 885	1710.2 + 0.2×(n-512)	f_up(n) + 95
GSM1900	GSM1900 (PCS1900)	512 ≤ n ≤ 810	1850.2 + 0.2×(n-512)	f_up(n) + 80

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