The Internet has become an important part of our daily lives. We need the internet to meet even our smallest needs like eating, sleeping, getting up. The Internet is a huge electronic network.
It can be both wired and wireless. While using the Internet in both options, we sometimes hear a word, bandwidth.
Most of us have no idea what bandwidth is. Today we are discussing what is bandwidth, how it works, where and how it is used, etc.
What is bandwidth?
Bandwidth is a method of measuring how much data can be moved from one place to another at a given time. Bandwidth is generally expressed as bitrate.
It is measured in bits per second. Bandwidth refers to the transmission capacity of a connection. When it comes to the quality and speed of the internet, it becomes an important factor.
Where and how is the bandwidth used?
Computers use bandwidth in technical areas other than the Internet. In the case of signal processing, for example, it is used to differentiate between upper and lower frequency of frequencies.
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Such broadcasting can even happen on radio. On the radio, it is measured as a herd. Bandwidth is also used to measure the water in the pipe.
In this way, gallons per minute are measured instead of bits per second. As mentioned earlier, bandwidth is measured in bits per second. Which is known as BPS.
However, in recent times it has become more convenient to express bandwidth. Today’s networks have a lot of bandwidth capacity. Which can be easily expressed even as a small unit.
It has become easy to see and understand the big numbers of the matrix. Mbps (megabits per second), Gbps (gigabits per second), TBPS (terabytes per second).
Terabits are followed by Petabyte, Exabyte, Zettabyte, Yottabyte. Which represents the additional power of each decade.
Method of measuring bandwidth:
There are several ways to measure bandwidth. Software or firmware or network interfaces are commonly used to measure bandwidth. For example, TTCP, PRTG network monitor tests can be used to measure general bandwidth.
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TTCP measures the impact capacity on an IP network between two hosts (send and receive). That is, it measures how fast the two networks are communicating.
Indicates the number of bytes and the total number of bytes traveling between the two hosts. PRTG is used to measure bandwidth over long intervals.
It represents bandwidth as a graphic interface or chart. Also measures traffic between different interfaces.
Generally, the total amount of traffic sent and received between a specific time period is calculated to measure bandwidth. As a result, it is expressed as the quantity of numbers measured per second.
There is another way to measure bandwidth. Some files of a certain size are transferred and how long it takes is measured.
The result is then converted to BPS. In this process, the file size is divided by the total time taken. This method is used to test internet speed on most computers.
How does bandwidth work?
The telecommunication center needs to find out where and in which application the bandwidth is being used and how much bandwidth is required for that. There are two ways to do this.
First you need to find out how much bandwidth is available. It is expressed in bits per second.
And secondly, the average bandwidth required for a computer or mobile application is decided. This is also expressed in bits per second.
The larger the bandwidth network, the more data it can send and receive at once. Let’s look at an example of how bandwidth works.
The larger a water pipe, the more water can flow through it. Bandwidth works on this principle. The larger the communication link on the network, the more data it can transfer in a second.
The difference between bandwidth and speed
Sometimes there is a dilemma between bandwidth and speed. Bandwidth means how much information you receive in a second.
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Speed means how fast the information is downloaded or received. Let’s take this as an example. Suppose we have to fill a bucket of water. For that, the bucket fills up faster when you use a tap with a wider mouth than a tap with a thin mouth.
Think of the bandwidth as water and the speed at which the water is moving in the bucket. To end the dilemma of bandwidth and speed, speed is called network speed and not bandwidth speed.
Why is bandwidth measured?
Bandwidth needs to be measured for a number of reasons. Suppose you purchased an Internet connection from a service provider.
Now you have to check whether the promised speed of internet speed is being fulfilled or not. In this case, we need to measure the bandwidth.
DSL report speed test is used for online bandwidth test. The internet service provider promises to give you 20 Mbps internet speed and even charges for it.
You have to measure the bandwidth to see if such a promise has been fulfilled. Most bandwidth is purchased from telecom companies.
Most bandwidth is sold as ‘up to’. For example, ‘Up to 20 Mbps’. This means that the customer can get internet up to 20 Mbps speed.
But it is not necessary to always maintain the same speed in the connection. Speed may increase or decrease at different times or under different circumstances.
