GHzbandwidth

GHz bandwidth is a measure of the width of the frequency spectrum allocated to or usable by a communications channel, expressed in gigahertz. It indicates how much spectrum a system can use for transmitting data and is not the same as the center frequency. A channel with a bandwidth of 1 GHz covers roughly a 1 GHz span of spectrum around its operating frequency; the exact allocation depends on regulatory rules and the modulation scheme used.

In information theory, channel capacity increases with bandwidth. The Shannon-Hartley theorem states C = B log2(1+S/N), where C is the capacity, B is the bandwidth, and S/N is the signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, for a fixed S/N, increasing bandwidth raises the maximum possible data rate, though practical limits such as noise, interference, and coding reduce actual throughput.

GHz bands are central to wireless communications. The 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands are widely used for Wi‑Fi and other ISM services, typically with unlicensed operation and power constraints. The 60 GHz V-band supports very high data rates over short distances and is used in some high-speed WLAN and backhaul products. Higher millimeter-wave bands around approximately 26–40 GHz and above are used by some 5G mmWave deployments and point-to-point backhaul links, offering very wide bandwidths in exchange for shorter range and higher atmospheric absorption.

Regulatory context varies by country. Some GHz bands are licensed for specific services, others are license-exempt or shared with power limits and interference rules. Equipment often exploits channel bonding and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) to achieve higher effective data rates without necessarily widening the spectrum.