What means CAT 1, 3, etc, Band 3, 7, etc and Carrier Aggregation (Internet Key and Wireless Router)

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The image above is from uBlox.

CAT

The CAT specification are summarized in the below table.

LTE Cat. 1 – up to 10 Mbps in download end 5 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 2 – up to 50 Mbps in download end 25 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 3 – up to 100 Mbps in download end 50 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 4 – up to 150 Mbps in download end 50 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 5 – up to 300 Mbps in download end 75 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 6 – up to 300 Mbps in download end 50 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 7 – up to 300 Mbps download end 100 Mbps download
LTE Cat. 8 – up to 3000 Mbps in download end 1500 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 9 – up to 450 Mbps download end 50 Mbps upload
LTE Cat. 10 – up to 450 Mbps download end 100 Mbps upload
LTE Cat. 11 – up to 600 Mbps in download end 50 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 12 – up to 600 Mbps download end 100 Mbps upload
LTE Cat. 13 – up to 400 Mbps in download end 150 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 14 – up to 400 Mbps in download end 100 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 15 – up to 4000 Mbps in download end 1500 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 16 – up to 1000 Mbps in download end 150 Mbps in upload.
LTE Cat. 18 – up to 1100 Mbps in download end 150 Mbps in uploa

BAND

Sometimes, referring the cellular phone, you listen someone that speak about the BAND 7, 20 etc, see a little explanation below.

  • Band 1 (2100 MHz)
  • Band 3 (1800 MHz), maximum download speed variable from 75 up to 150 Mbit/s;
  • Band 7 (2600 MHz), maximum download speed from 112.5 to 150 Mbit/s;
  • Band 8 (900 Mhz)
  • Band 20 (800 MHz), download speed 75 Mbit/s.
  • Band 32 (1500 MHz)

The lower frequency bands, therefore the BAND 20 (800 MHz), allows to transmit the signal covering greater distances, accepting some compromises in terms of data transmission speed.

(The image below is from Wikipedia)

If you use the TIM operator for see the BAND that it use, in your position, type *#0011# in the space where you usually enter the phone numbers to call.

Carrier Aggregation

Carrier Aggregation – it’s the capability of aggregate all wireless bands available.
See for example the Huawei B525s-23a.