Bandwidth (computing)

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In computer network and computer science, digital bandwidth or just bandwidth means the amount of data that can be sent from one point to another in a certain period of time.[1] It is measured as a bit rate expressed in bits per second (bits/s) or multiples of it (kbit/s Mbit/s etc.)[1]

Digital bandwidth should not be confused with:

  • Network throughput: which is the average rate of successful data transfer through a connection.
  • Data transfer: which is the quantity of data transferred over a given period of time.

Bandwidth in web hosting[change | change source]

In web hosting, the term "bandwidth" is often used to describe the amount of data transferred to or from the website within a defined period of time. Another more specific phrase used for this meaning of bandwidth is monthly data transfer.[2]

Web hosting companies often quote a monthly data transfer for a website, for example 500 gigabytes per month. If the total amount of data downloaded from the website in a particular month reaches this limit, the hosting company may shut off further public access to the site.

Internet connections bandwidths[change | change source]

Bandwidth Connection type
56 kbit/s Modem / Dialup
1.544 Mbit/s T1
10 Mbit/s Ethernet
11 Mbit/s Wireless 802.11b
43.232 Mbit/s T3
54 Mbit/s Wireless-G 802.11g
100 Mbit/s Fast Ethernet
155 Mbit/s OC3
300 Mbit/s Wireless-N WiFi
622 Mbit/s OC12
1000 Mbit/s Gigabit Ethernet
2.5 Gbit/s OC48
9.6 Gbit/s OC192
10 Gbit/s 10 Gigabit Ethernet

Broadband[change | change source]

Sometimes, the word "broadband" is used to mean "high-speed", especially with high-speed internet connections. "Broadband" means "wide band", and suggests high-speed. However, the term is not clear; "high-speed" is more clear. A dial-up telephone connection is most often thought to be low-speed, at less than 56,000 bit/s (bits per second). High-speed is usually 200,000 bit/s or faster. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or Cable modem connections are usually high-speed.

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "bandwidth". SearchEnterpriseWAN.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  2. "How much web hosting bandwidth do I need?". GreenGeeks®, LLC. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.