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IARU regions

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IARU regions
Region 1Europe, Africa, the Middle East west of the Persian Gulf, the former Soviet Union and Mongolia
Region 2North, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Greenland
Region 3Asia from Iran eastward (except the former Soviet Union and Mongolia), Australia, New Zealand and most of the Pacific
Defined inITU Radio Regulations, Article 5
Example differences
80 m3.5–3.8 MHz (R1); 3.5–4.0 MHz (R2); 3.5–3.9 MHz (R3)
40 m7.0–7.2 MHz (R1, R3); 7.0–7.3 MHz (R2)
2 m144–146 MHz (R1); 144–148 MHz (R2, R3)
70 cm430–440 MHz in most countries; 420–450 MHz in the US
Organization
Regional bodiesIARU Region 1, Region 2 and Region 3 organizations
ConferencesEach region every three years, staggered

The IARU regions are the three regions into which the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) divides the world for allocating radio frequencies, and the three matching regional organizations of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). Article 5 of the ITU Radio Regulations defines the regions and their allocations.[1] Several amateur bands are wider in one region than another, and a few exist in only one. Each IARU regional organization publishes its own band plan, which is why operating habits also differ around the world.

The three regions

Region Area Examples
Region 1 Europe, Africa, the Middle East west of the Persian Gulf (including Iraq), the former Soviet Union and Mongolia UK, Germany, South Africa, Russia
Region 2 The Americas, including Greenland, and some islands of the eastern Pacific US, Canada, Brazil
Region 3 Asia east of and including Iran, apart from the former Soviet states and Mongolia, and most of Oceania India, Japan, Australia

The boundaries are lines on the map, not always national borders. All of Russia, including Siberia, is in Region 1, while neighboring Japan is in Region 3.[1]

Why the bands differ

Governments allocate frequencies at World Radiocommunication Conferences, and amateurs share the spectrum with broadcasting, military and other users whose needs vary by region.

Band Region 1 Region 2 Region 3
160 m From 1.810 MHz; how much of 1.850–2.000 MHz is available varies by country 1.800–2.000 MHz 1.800–2.000 MHz
80 m 3.500–3.800 MHz[2] 3.500–4.000 MHz[3] 3.500–3.900 MHz[4]
40 m 7.000–7.200 MHz 7.000–7.300 MHz 7.000–7.200 MHz
6 m 50–52 MHz, secondary, with more in some countries[5] 50–54 MHz 50–54 MHz
4 m Not in the ITU table; around 70 MHz in some countries by national rules Not in the ITU table; rare national exceptions Not in the ITU table
2 m 144–146 MHz 144–148 MHz 144–148 MHz
1.25 m None 220–225 MHz (US 219–220 and 222–225 MHz)[3][6] None
70 cm 430–440 MHz 430–440 MHz; wider nationally (420–450 MHz in the US, 430–450 MHz in Canada)[6][7] 430–440 MHz (Radio Regulations footnote 5.270 also allocates 420–430 and 440–450 MHz in Australia and the Philippines; Australia withdrew 420–430 MHz from general amateur use in 2013)[4][8][9]

These are regional allocations; many countries authorize less than the full regional band, so check national rules.

40 meters shows how allocations change. Until 2009, amateurs in Regions 1 and 3 had only 7.000 to 7.100 MHz; the frequencies above belonged to broadcasters. The 2003 conference (WRC-03) moved broadcasting in those regions out of 7.100–7.200 MHz, effective March 29, 2009, and up to 7.200–7.450 MHz.[10] Region 2 kept its exclusive amateur band to 7.300 MHz, where evening signals compete with broadcasters from other continents.

60 meters is a newer case. WRC-15 created a narrow worldwide secondary allocation, 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz, generally limited to 15 watts EIRP (effective isotropic radiated power), with up to 25 watts in some Region 2 countries.[11] The current Radio Regulations footnote also sets a 20-watt limit for Mexico.[12] National rules still vary: the US and Canada add fixed channels, and the UK gives Full licensees segments between 5258.5 and 5406.5 kHz.[7][13] See 60-meter band.

At VHF, Region 1 gained a secondary allocation at 50–52 MHz at WRC-19, while many African and Middle Eastern countries have the full 50–54 MHz.[5]

Band plans and conferences

Band plans divide each band into segments for CW, digital modes, voice, beacons and satellites. Each regional organization adopts its own plan; national societies such as the RSGB adapt it for their own countries, and the ARRL publishes a separate band plan for the United States.[14] National law always takes precedence over a band plan. As of October 2026, the current regional plans are the Region 1 HF plan in force since October 2020 (Region 1 also publishes separate VHF and higher plans), the Region 2 plan of September 2020, and the Region 3 plan adopted at the 19th Region 3 Conference in Bangkok in November 2024.[2][3][4]

The three regions meet in turn: each holds a general conference every third year, so one of them meets each year.[15] Region 2's 22nd General Assembly met in Salvador, Brazil, in October 2025,[16] and Region 1's 27th General Conference took place in Vienna in September 2026.[17] Emergency frequencies differ too: on 40 meters the Region 2 plan lists 7.060, 7.240 and 7.275 MHz, while the Region 1 and Region 3 plans use 7.110 MHz.[3][2][4]

What it means for operators

  • Split operation. On 40-meter phone, stations in Regions 1 and 3 must stay below 7.200 MHz, while US voice privileges begin at 7.125 MHz for Amateur Extra licensees and 7.175 MHz for Generals.[6] The shared window below 7.200 MHz is narrow and crowded, so DX stations often transmit below 7.200 MHz and listen higher in the band for callers from the Americas, a practice called split operation. The same happens on 80 meters, where most voice outside the Americas is below 3.800 MHz.
  • Equipment. A 2-meter radio bought in the Americas can transmit up to 148 MHz, outside the Region 1 band.
  • Operating abroad. Visitors follow the host country's rules; see Operating abroad.
On 40-meter phone, listen for where a DX station says it is listening. A station in Europe or Asia often transmits below 7.200 MHz and listens above it for the Americas.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 ITU Region, Wikipedia (summarizing ITU Radio Regulations Article 5).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 IARU Region 1 HF Band Plan, IARU Region 1, October 2020.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 IARU Region 2 Band Plan, IARU Region 2, September 2020.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 IARU Region 3 Band Plan (R3-004 Rev. 2), IARU Region 3, November 2024.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Post WRC-19 50 MHz allocations, IARU Region 2, December 2019.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 47 CFR Part 97, Subpart D (97.301, 97.305), eCFR.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 RBR-4, Standards for the Operation of Radio Stations in the Amateur Radio Service, Issue 3, ISED Canada, July 2022.
  8. ↑ Land Mobile Radio Services Guidelines (quoting Radio Regulations No. 5.270), Spectrum Management Authority (Jamaica).
  9. ↑ The band 420 – 430 MHz to be withdrawn from amateurs on 1 January 2013, WIA, July 2012.
  10. ↑ Between Apparatus Assignment And Regional Band Plan, hamradio.my (quoting the IARU Region 3 report on WRC-03).
  11. ↑ World Radiocommunication Conference Approves Global 60 Meter Allocation, ARRL, November 2015.
  12. ↑ Radio Regulations footnote 5.133B, ComReg.
  13. ↑ Amateur Radio Wireless Telegraphy Licence Conditions Booklet (OFW611), Ofcom, February 2024.
  14. ↑ ARRL Seeks Member Input on Draft HF Band Plan Proposals, ARRL, February 2015.
  15. ↑ Regional Conferences, IARU Region 1.
  16. ↑ XXII General Assembly of IARU-R2, IARU Region 2.
  17. ↑ 27th IARU-R1 General Conference 2026, IARU Region 1.
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