Satellite frequency bands

With the variety of satellite frequency bands that can be used, designations have been developed so that they can be referred to easily. 

The higher frequency bands typically give access to wider bandwidths, but are also more susceptible to signal degradation due to ‘rain fade’ (the absorption of radio signals by atmospheric rain, snow or ice).

Because of satellites’ increased use, number and size, congestion has become a serious issue in the lower frequency bands. New technologies are being investigated so that higher bands can be used. 

L-band (1–2 GHz)

It provides reliable, low-data-rate communications with excellent resistance to weather, which makes it ideal for mobile and safety-critical services.

Typical uses: GPS navigation, satellite phones (e.g., Inmarsat, Iridium), aviation tracking, and maritime communications.

S-Band (2–4 GHz)

It offers stable and resilient performance with good penetration through atmospheric conditions, often used for control links and mobile connectivity. A 2×15 MHz allocation around 2 GHz (typically 1980–1995 MHz uplink / 2170–2185 MHz downlink) has been awarded in Europe to operators like Viasat and EchoStar for mobile satellite services.

Typical uses: Telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C), mobile satellite communications, S-band payloads for aviation and rail safety, and multimedia delivery to handheld terminals. It also supports deep space missions like the James Webb Space Telescope, which uses S-band for real-time telemetry.

C-band (4–8 GHz)

It is valued for its low rain fade and wide coverage, making it a dependable choice for large-scale communications infrastructure.

Typical uses: Satellite TV broadcasting, enterprise VSAT networks, long-distance telephony, and disaster recovery communications.

X-band (8–12 GHz)

It is a protected, highly stable band primarily used by military and government users for secure and mission-critical operations.

Typical uses: Military satellite communications (MILSATCOM), radar imaging (SAR), battlefield data relay, and government TT&C.

Ku-band (12–18 GHz)

It supports high-capacity services with smaller antennas and is widely used for mobility and consumer applications.

Typical uses: Satellite television (DTH), in-flight connectivity, maritime broadband, and commercial VSAT services.

K-band (18-26 GHz)

It offers short-range satellite links, for data transfer and broadcasting. It is also used in short-range weather radar, as it is more stable in humid conditions.

Typical uses: law enforcement radars, collision avoidance systems in cars and surface movement radars for aircrafts and vehicles on airport’ ground.

Ka-band (26–40 GHz)

It enables ultra-high-speed data transmission and massive capacity, ideal for broadband and cloud services, though sensitive to rain.

Typical uses: High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) internet, satellite-based 5G backhaul, cloud access, military communications, and enterprise broadband.