Bandwidth (computing)

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In computer networking and computer science, digital bandwidth or just bandwidth often refers to a data rate measured in bits/s, for example, network throughput. The reason for the connection of data rate with bandwidth is that according to Hartley's law, the limit to the data rate (that is, the channel capacity) of a physical communication link is related to its bandwidth in hertz, sometimes denoted analog bandwidth in computer networking literature. For the case of high signal/noise ratio, the digital bandwidth consumption (i.e. the throughput) of a bit stream or logical link in a computer network is proportional to the average spectral bandwidth of the analog signal representing the bit stream during a studied time interval. However, measuring bandwidth in bits/s is disputed due to confusion with the original definition. Less ambiguous terms are for example gross bit rate, net bit rate, throughput, goodput or channel capacity.

1 Bandwidth in web hosting
2 Bandwidth in business
3 Internet connection speeds
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Bandwidth in web hosting

In website hosting, the term "bandwidth" is often used metaphorically, to describe the amount of data that can be transferred to or from the website or server, measured in bytes transferred over a prescribed period of time. This can be more accurately described as "Monthly Data Transfer."

Web hosting companies often quote a monthly bandwidth limit for a website, for example 500 gigabytes per month. If visitors to the website download a total greater than 500 gigabytes in one month, the bandwidth limit will have been exceeded.

When a website grows in popularity or exceeds its bandwidth limits, webmasters may reduce bandwidth usage by employing bandwidth optimization techniques.

[edit] Bandwidth in business

Bandwidth has acquired a recent definition in corporate business practice. By analogy with computing bandwidth, the term is used to connote capacity, manpower, energy or time (or any combination of these) in relation to the ability to perform a task.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Internet connection speeds

Below is a table showing the maximum bandwidth of different connection types to the internet:

56 kbit/s	Modem / Dialup
1.544 Mbit/s	T1
10 Mbit/s	Ethernet
11 Mbit/s	Wireless 802.11b
54 Mbit/s	Wireless-G 802.11g
100 Mbit/s	Fast Ethernet
300 Mbit/s	Wireless-N 802.11n
1000 Mbit/s	Gigabit Ethernet
10000 Mbit/s	10 Gigabit Ethernet