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GHz is a unit of frequency referring to billions of cycles per second. It is used in computer performance and radio frequencies, with different bands assigned to different uses. Interference can occur between devices transmitting on or near the same band. Advances in semiconductor technologies have made GHz frequencies possible.
Gigahertz, usually abbreviated GHz, refers to frequencies in the range of billions of cycles per second. Giga is the standard multiplier for 1 billion and Hertz is the standard unit for measuring frequencies, expressed as cycles or occurrences per second. One GHz equals 1,000 megahertz (MHz).
Most commonly, gigahertz is used when discussing computer performance or radio frequencies. In computers, it most often refers to the clock speed of the central processing unit (CPU); the faster the CPU clock, the faster, in general, the computer can process data and instructions. In 2000, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices hit a marketing and technical milestone by releasing the first CPUs that run at 1 GHz, and speeds have increased dramatically since then.
In radio communications, GHz is used to define bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, with different bands assigned to different uses. S-Band, for example, is a spectrum band between 2 and 4 GHz. Common technologies such as Bluetooth®, wireless Internet (WiFi) and cordless phones operate in the S-Band. The L-band, between 1 and 2 GHz, is used for satellite communications and global positioning systems, or GPS. Other notable bands include Ku and Ka, used by satellites and police radar guns.
Devices transmitting on or near the same band can interfere with each other. This is caused by the wave nature of radio waves; peaks in one wave can be offset by lows in the other wave, thus canceling out both waves. The closer the two signals are in frequency, the more pronounced the effect. Microwave ovens, for example, can interfere with Internet connections because they emit radiation at the same frequency as that used by WiFi routers. Likewise, Bluetooth® and WiFi compete for the same frequencies and using them simultaneously can impact throughput.
The use of GHz frequencies for communications has been made possible by advances in semiconductor technologies. Before the widespread use of transistors and high-speed electronics, it was impractical to generate such high frequencies.
