Bandwidth
measurementessential
speedcapacitynetwork performance
The maximum rate of data transfer across a given path in a network, measured in bits per second (bps). Think of it as the width of a highway - the wider it is, the more data can flow simultaneously.
Examples
Home internet plan
A 100 Mbps bandwidth plan allows theoretical maximum transfer of 100 megabits per second
Video streaming
Netflix 4K streaming requires about 25 Mbps bandwidth per stream
Typical Values
Basic web browsing5-10 Mbps
HD video streaming25 Mbps
4K video streaming50-100 Mbps
Large file transfers100+ Mbps
Common Misconceptions
- •Bandwidth and speed are not the same - bandwidth is capacity, speed is how fast data actually travels
- •Higher bandwidth doesn't always mean faster loading times if latency is high
Optimization Tips
Upgrade your internet plan for more bandwidth
Use QoS to allocate bandwidth to priority devices
Limit the number of concurrent connections
User Impact
Multiple device usage
Limited bandwidth gets divided among all connected devices
Peak hours usage
Available bandwidth may be reduced due to network congestion