Tools / nr-arfcn-calculator

5G NR-ARFCN Calculator

Convert NR-ARFCN to frequency, or convert frequency (MHz) back to NR-ARFCN and matching 5G NR bands.

NR ARFCN Calculator - Convert 5G NR Frequency to ARFCN

The NR ARFCN Calculator helps engineers convert between 5G NR frequencies and Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Numbers (ARFCN) used in 5G networks.

In modern cellular systems, frequencies are often represented by channel numbers instead of raw MHz values. These channel numbers are called ARFCN and are widely used in network configuration, UE measurements, and radio planning.

Use the calculator above to quickly convert:

Frequency -> NR ARFCN
NR ARFCN -> Frequency

This tool supports both FR1 (Sub-6 GHz) and FR2 (mmWave) frequency ranges defined by 3rd Generation Partnership Project.

NR-ARFCN to Frequency

NR-ARFCN

Frequency to NR-ARFCN

Frequency (MHz)

Direction

NR global raster: 5 kHz / 15 kHz / 60 kHz (3GPP TS 38.104).

Filtered Results

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Band	Duplex	DL ARFCN Range	DL Frequency Range (MHz)	UL ARFCN Range	UL Frequency Range (MHz)
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All NR Bands (Reference)

Band	FR	Duplex	DL ARFCN Range	DL Frequency Range (MHz)	UL ARFCN Range	UL Frequency Range (MHz)
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What is NR ARFCN?

NR ARFCN stands for:

NR Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number

It is a standardized channel numbering scheme used in 5G New Radio (NR) to uniquely identify carrier frequencies.

Instead of specifying frequencies like:

3500 MHz

the network uses a standardized number such as:

ARFCN = 620000

This simplifies frequency management across the network.

Why ARFCN Is Used in 5G Networks

Using numeric channel identifiers instead of raw frequencies provides several advantages:

Standardized Frequency Identification

Every carrier frequency is mapped to a specific ARFCN value.

Simplified Network Configuration

Base stations can be configured using ARFCN values instead of MHz frequencies.

Easier UE Frequency Scanning

User equipment scans frequencies based on ARFCN ranges.

Consistent Signaling Parameters

ARFCN values are used in signaling messages exchanged between the UE and network.

5G NR Frequency Ranges

5G NR operates across two major frequency ranges.

Frequency Range	Name	Frequency Range
FR1	Sub-6 GHz	410 MHz - 7125 MHz
FR2	Millimeter Wave	24.25 GHz - 52.6 GHz

Each range uses different frequency step sizes when calculating ARFCN.

NR ARFCN Formula

The relationship between frequency and ARFCN is defined by the following equation:

NR-ARFCN = (Fref - Foffset) / DeltaFglobal + Noffset

Where:

Parameter	Description
Fref	Reference frequency
Foffset	Frequency offset
DeltaFglobal	Frequency step size
Noffset	ARFCN offset

These parameters are defined in the 5G NR radio specifications.

Frequency Step Size

The step size used for ARFCN calculation depends on the frequency range.

Frequency Range	Step Size
FR1	5 kHz
FR2	60 kHz

This means the ARFCN increments correspond to small frequency spacing steps across the spectrum.

Example ARFCN Calculations

Example 1 - Band n78

Parameter	Value
Frequency	3500 MHz
Resulting ARFCN	~620000

Example 2 - Band n41

Parameter	Value
Frequency	2500 MHz
Resulting ARFCN	~499200

These values can be verified using the NR ARFCN calculator above.

Common 5G Bands and ARFCN Values

Band	Frequency Range	Typical ARFCN
n78	3300-3800 MHz	620000-653333
n41	2496-2690 MHz	~499200
n77	3300-4200 MHz	620000-680000
n258	24.25-27.5 GHz	>2016667

These ARFCN ranges help identify carriers in real network deployments.

Where ARFCN Appears in 5G Signaling

ARFCN values appear in several radio configuration parameters and signaling messages.

RRC Messages

RRC Setup
RRC Reconfiguration
Measurement Configuration

These messages configure the UE with the correct carrier frequencies.

System Information Blocks

The network broadcasts ARFCN information in System Information Block messages (SIB).

This allows UEs to determine:

the carrier frequency
supported bandwidth
cell configuration parameters.

Measurement Configuration

During mobility procedures, the network provides neighbor frequencies using ARFCN values.

Example parameter:

ssbFrequency

This tells the UE which frequency to measure for neighboring cells.

ARFCN vs GSCN

Another important 5G frequency parameter is GSCN (Global Synchronization Channel Number).

Parameter	Purpose
ARFCN	identifies carrier frequency
GSCN	identifies synchronization signal frequency

GSCN is used during cell search, while ARFCN is used for carrier configuration and measurements.

Practical Use Cases for NR ARFCN

Network engineers use ARFCN values for many tasks.

Base Station Configuration

gNBs are configured using ARFCN instead of raw frequency.

Network Planning

Planning tools calculate frequency allocations using ARFCN.

UE Log Analysis

Engineers analyze ARFCN values when troubleshooting devices.

Neighbor Cell Configuration

ARFCN identifies neighboring carriers during mobility procedures.

Example Network Configuration

Example configuration used in a typical 5G deployment.

Band: n78
Carrier Frequency: 3500 MHz
NR ARFCN: 620000
Bandwidth: 100 MHz
Subcarrier Spacing: 30 kHz

The ARFCN value uniquely identifies the carrier used by the base station.

When to Use the NR ARFCN Calculator

The calculator is useful for:

converting frequency to ARFCN
converting ARFCN to frequency
validating network configurations
planning 5G carrier frequencies
analyzing UE logs and measurement reports

Related 5G Tools

You may also find these tools useful:

These calculators help engineers design and analyze wireless systems.

References

The ARFCN numbering scheme is defined in the following specifications.

3rd Generation Partnership Project TS 38.104 - NR Base Station Radio Transmission and Reception
3rd Generation Partnership Project TS 38.211 - NR Physical Channels and Modulation
3rd Generation Partnership Project TS 38.331 - NR Radio Resource Control