What is Bandwidth?

What is Bandwidth?

Bandwidth comes from the combination of the words 'Band,' which refers to frequency, and 'Width,' which means width. Therefore, when these two words are combined, 'bandwidth' can be translated as the width of the frequency range. This indicates that the higher the value of internet bandwidth, the greater the internet speed will be.

Bandwidth (often pronounced as 'bandwidth') can be understood simply as a pipe, with data being the water. The amount of water that can flow through the pipe represents the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted through the bandwidth.

Although network bandwidth providers specify the size and speed of the internet, some people find that the actual data transfer speed does not match what the provider has stated. This article will explain why a high bandwidth does not necessarily result in high internet speed. Let’s find out the reasons.

Units used to measure bandwidth

Previously, the unit used to measure bandwidth was 'bits per second' (Bps). However, as internet speeds and sizes have increased significantly, Bps has become too small a unit. Nowadays, the more commonly used unit for measuring bandwidth is 'megabits per second' (Mbps). Additionally, bandwidth units can also reach 'gigabits per second' (Gbps) and 'terabits per second' (Tbps).

Quantities of Megabits, Gigabits, and Terabits:
1 Megabit = 1,000,000 bits
1 Gigabit = 1,000,000,000 bits
1 Terabit = 1,000,000,000,000 bits

The difference between Bandwidth and Speed

Bandwidth and speed: For example, imagine a pipe (Bandwidth) through which water (Data) flows to its destination. If the pipe is large, the water can flow smoothly and quickly, which means the speed (performance) will be good. However, if the pipe is smaller than the amount of water flowing through it, the water will flow more slowly as a result.

Why is bandwidth important?

Bandwidth is a medium for transmitting data over the internet and is crucial in today's world. For communication purpose whether sending emails, messages on LINE, or other data online an internet connection is essential. Bandwidth is essentially the channel through which this data is transmitted. This highlights the importance of bandwidth.

Summary of the meaning of bandwidth

Most people don't pay much attention to checking bandwidth, and when there are issues with data transfer, they often focus on the size of the data, assuming that it is causing the slow internet speed. However, this is addressing the symptom rather than the root cause. In reality, we should also pay attention to bandwidth.