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 |