GSM Frequency Band Guide for International SIM Card Users

When going abroad, frequent international travellers who have an unlocked world phone can take advantage of the low-cost calling and data roaming options that comes with International SIM cards. A world phone is a mobile device that is on the GSM network and supports multiple mobile frequencies. Before going abroad, you should always check that your handset is compatible with the GSM mobile frequency used in the country you are visiting. For iPhone users, you can click here to learn which iPhone model can be used with International SIM cards

Mobile Handsets may only be able to receive certain frequencies – the frequencies they use are referred to as bands. There are four different types available, Single Band, Dual Band, Tri-Band and Quad Band.

  • Single Band: can only receive one frequency. The frequency depends on the country the handset was manufactured for, for example a Single Band handset for the UK may only support GSM 900, and these handsets are now very rarely used.
  • Dual Band: can receive two frequencies. Again depending on the country the handset was manufactured for, the two frequencies may differ. The most common are 900/1800 (UK) and 850/1900 (US).
  • Tri-Band: can receive three frequencies. There a two types of tri-band handsets, those which use 900/1800/1900 (European) and those which use 850/1800/1900 (US).
  • Quad Band: can receive all 4 frequencies, and will work in most countries.

Important Notice: When travelling to Canada (850/1900), Japan or South Korea.
These countries - networks use 3G service only. A 3G enabled handset is required. Quad Band, Tri-Band and Dual Band GSM handsets WILL NOT work unless they also support 3G. For best results while roaming in USA a 3G Quad Band supporting 1700 MHz handset is recommended.

For full GSM Network Coverage Maps see here

Select Country below for additional information.

Country Frequencies Used
Afghanistan GSM 900
Albania GSM 900/1800
Algeria GSM 900/1800
Andorra GSM 900
Angola GSM 900
Anguilla  
Antigua and Barbuda GSM 900/1900
Argentina GSM 1900
Armenia GSM 900/1800
Aruba GSM 900/1800/1900
Australia GSM 900/1800
Austria GSM 900/1800
Azerbaijan GSM 900
Bahamas GSM 1900
Bahrain GSM 900/1800
Bangladesh GSM 900
Barbados GSM 900/1900
Belarus GSM 900/1800
Belgium GSM 900/1800
Belize GSM 1900
Bermuda GSM 1900
Bolivia GSM 1900
Bosnia and Herzegovina GSM 900
Botswana GSM 900
Brazil GSM 900/1800
British Virgin Islands GSM 900/1900
Bulgaria GSM 900/1800
Burkina Faso GSM 900
Burundi GSM 900
Cambodia GSM 900/1800
Cameroon GSM 900
Canada GSM 3G 850/1900
Cape Verde GSM 900
Cayman Islands GSM 850/1900
Central African Republic GSM 900
Chad GSM 900
Chile GSM 1900
China GSM 900
Colombia GSM 850/1900
Congo, Republic of GSM 900
Congo, Democratic Republic of GSM 900/1800
Costa Rica GSM 1800
Côte d'Ivoire GSM 900
Croatia GSM 900
Cuba GSM 900
Cyprus GSM 900/1800
Czech Republic GSM 900/1800
Denmark GSM 900/1800
Djibouti GSM 900
Dominica GSM 900/1900
Dominican Republic GSM 1800/1900
Ecuador GSM 850
Egypt GSM 900
El Salvador GSM 850/900/1800
Equatorial Guinea GSM 900
Eritrea GSM 900
Estonia GSM 900/1800
Ethiopia GSM 900
Faroe Islands GSM 900
Fiji GSM 900
Finland GSM 900/1800
France GSM 900/1800
Gabon GSM 900
Gambia GSM 900
Georgia GSM 900/1800
Germany GSM 900/1800
Ghana GSM 900
Gibraltar GSM 900
Greece GSM 900/1800
Grenada GSM 900/1800/1900
Guadeloupe  
Guatemala GSM 850/1900
Guinea GSM 900
Guinea Bissau GSM 900
Guyana GSM 900
Haiti GSM 850
Honduras GSM 850/1900
Hong Kong GSM 900/1800
Hungary GSM 900/1800
Iceland GSM 900/1800
India GSM 900/1800
Indonesia GSM 900/1800
Iran GSM 900
Iraq GSM 900
Ireland GSM 900/1800
Israel GSM 900/1800
Italy GSM 900/1800
Jamaica GSM 900/1800/1900
Japan  
Jersey GSM 900/1800
Jordan GSM 900/1800
Kazakhstan GSM 900
Kenya GSM 900
Kuwait GSM 900/1800
Kyrgyzstan GSM 900
Laos GSM 900/1800
Latvia GSM 900/1800
Lebanon GSM 900
Lesotho GSM 900
Liechtenstein GSM 900/1800
Lithuania GSM 900/1800
Luxembourg GSM 900/1800
Macau GSM 900/1800
Macedonia (formerly Yugoslavia) GSM 900
Madagascar GSM 900
Malawi GSM 900
Malaysia GSM 900/1800
Maldives GSM 900
Mali GSM 900
Malta GSM 900/1800
Mauritania GSM 900
Mauritius GSM 900
Mexico GSM 1900
Micronesia GSM 900
Moldova GSM 900
Monaco GSM 900
Mongolia GSM 900
Montserrat GSM 850
Morocco GSM 900
Mozambique GSM 900/1800
Myanmar GSM 900
Namibia GSM 900/1800
Nepal GSM 900
Netherlands GSM 900/1800
Netherlands Antilles GSM 900/1800
New Caledonia GSM 900
New Zealand GSM 900
Nicaragua GSM 1900
Niger GSM 900
Nigeria GSM 900/1800
Norway GSM 900/1800
Oman GSM 900
Pakistan GSM 900/1800
Panama GSM 850
Papua New Guinea GSM 900
Paraguay GSM 1900/850
Peru GSM 1900
Philippines GSM 900/1800
Poland GSM 900/1800
Portugal GSM 900/1800
Qatar GSM 900/1800
Reunion GSM 900/1800
Romania GSM 900/1800
Russia GSM 900/1800
Rwanda GSM 900
Saudi Arabia GSM 900
Senegal GSM 900
Serbia GSM 900/1800
Seychelles GSM 850/900/1800
Sierra Leone GSM 900
Singapore GSM 900/1800
Slovakia GSM 900/1800
Slovenia GSM 900/1800
Somalia GSM 900/1800
South Africa GSM 900/1800
Spain GSM 900/1800
Sri Lanka GSM 900/1800
St. Kitts and Nevis GSM 850/1900
St. Lucia GSM 900/1800/1900
St. Vincent and the Grenadines GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Sudan GSM 900/1800
Suriname GSM 900/1800
Swaziland GSM 900
Sweden GSM 900/1800
Switzerland GSM 900/1800
Syria GSM 900/1800
Tahiti GSM 900
Taiwan GSM 900/1800
Tajikistan GSM 900/1800
Tanzania GSM 900/1800
Thailand GSM 900/1800/1900
Togo GSM 900
Tonga GSM 900
Trinidad and Tobago GSM 1800
Tunisia GSM 900
Turkey GSM 900/1800
Turkmenistan GSM 900
Turks and Caicos Islands GSM 850
Uganda GSM 900
Ukraine GSM 900/1800
United Arab Emirates GSM 900
United Kingdom GSM 900/1800
United States GSM 850/1700/1900/2100
Uruguay GSM 1800
Uzbekistan GSM 900/1800
Vanuatu GSM 900
Venezuela GSM 900
Vietnam GSM 900/1800
Yemen GSM 900
Zambia GSM 900
Zimbabwe GSM 900