3G, also known as third generation mobile telecommunication, allows us to make video calls, watch mobile TV, connect to the internet via high-speed 3G/HSDPA. To offer 3G services, a telco must obtain a 3G license and must operate within the UMTS frequency band/s allocated by the NTC.

Band I (W-CDMA 2100)

Band I (W-CDMA 2100) uses 1920–1980 MHz to send information from the mobile station to the base station (uplink) and 2110–2170 MHz for the other direction (downlink). Band I (2100 MHz) can accommodate more subscribers than Band V (850 MHz) but it has lesser coverage. Initially, only 4 telecom operators were given frequency assignments on Band I (W-CDMA 2100); Globe, Smart, Sun Cellular (Digitel) and Umobile (CURE).

Band V (W-CDMA 850) / AMPS 800

AMPS cellular service operated in the 800 MHz band (824-849 and 869-894 MHz). In 1991, 800 MHz band is used for AMPS. Piltel and Extelcom were the only telcos offering cellular phone services using AMPS standard.

But in UMTS, the bands 824-849 and 869-894 MHz are labelled as 850 Mhz or Band V (W-CDMA 850). It uses 824-849 MHz to send information from the mobile station to the base station (uplink) and 869-894 MHz for the other direction (downlink). Band V (850 MHz) has wider coverage and has better building penetration than Band I (2100 MHz).