Bandwidth in Computer Network
In a computer network, bandwidth is the fastest possible rate at which information may move over a connection. Bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (Kbps), megabits per second (Mbps), or gigabits per second (Gbps) are the most common units of measurement.
Your everyday life probably depends heavily on bandwidth, particularly given how much more society depends on the internet for work, pleasure, and communication.
Types of Bandwidth in Computer Network
- Public Wireless
- Public Broadband
- Private Network
- Hybrid Software
Public wireless, public broadband, private networks, and hybrid software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) are the primary forms of bandwidth.
1. Public Wireless
Satellite and Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular service, also known as 4G, are typically more costly than terrestrial services with comparable bandwidth. In places where cable companies have not yet offered Internet access and where current twisted-pair copper phone lines are unable to handle data needs, they might be the only choice.
Only a few locations presently offer 5G, the newest generation of public wireless. Watch this space for updates on this revolutionary technology. 5G will be a potent choice for corporate WANs if even a small portion of its promises materialize.
2. Public Broadband
Broad bandwidth is commonly referred to as broadband. Telephone companies or cable companies offer these fast Internet connections. Multiple data channels are used by broadband internet to send vast amounts of data. Fiber, cable, and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) are popular broadband options.
Broadband's primary advantage is its comparatively low cost for large bandwidth. Reliability and security are trade-offs. One public broadband connection is susceptible to outages and other quality problems. Most corporate users find it unacceptable when VoIP calls end and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) disconnects due to poor connection quality. However, due to the low cost of the service, commercial users can be okay with occasional or moderate interruptions.
3. Private Network
Private networks are not shared, as the name suggests. They are offered by carriers as expert business services with Quality of Service (QoS) terms included in Service Level Agreements (SLA). As a result, contracts have long terms (usually 36 to 60 months) and are substantially more expensive than best effort public broadband services.
A data-carrying method for private, high-performance telecommunications networks is multi-protocol label switching. It provides a safe transport mode by utilizing encapsulated data and is isolated from the public Internet. Although MPLS can use a variety of access technologies, it usually uses fiber or Metro Ethernet (up to 10 Gbps) on the high end and T1 (1.54 Mbps) on the low end.
4. Hybrid software-defined wide area networks
Any service from any provider can be combined to create a robust public/private network using certain SD-WAN technologies. Data duplication across multiple connections or automatic link failover are two possible configurations for SD-WAN networks with two or more different connections. Data flows across the undamaged link without any loss of data or downtime even if one connection is lost because of a carrier problem or a construction mishap.
Importance Of Bandwidth
This is a summary of its importance:
Data Transfer Speed:
The speed at which data can be delivered and received is directly influenced by bandwidth, which also affects website loading times, download speeds, and the responsiveness of online interactions in general.
Playing games online:
For a responsive and lag-free online gaming experience, especially while playing multiplayer games, a steady and large bandwidth is necessary.
Network Stability:
Even during periods of high usage, a more stable and dependable connection is ensured by sufficient bandwidth, which also helps to reduce network congestion.
Applications for the Cloud:
For smooth connection, data synchronization, and the general functionality of cloud-based apps and services, more bandwidth is essential.
Reduction of Latency:
By lowering latency—the interval between transmitting and receiving data—bandwidth contributes to more responsive online interactions.
Method of Optimizing Bandwidth
Six recommendations for optimizing your network bandwidth are as follows:
Map the Network:
The next crucial step is to make a map that shows network traffic, including the connections between devices and the flow of data to and from particular users. Using virtual local area networks (VLANs) to divide the network may be advantageous after these maps are comprehended. By taking this action, the network's bandwidth usage can be decreased and superfluous traffic can be avoided.
Set a Baseline:
An excellent place to start when optimizing is by learning how user applications use bandwidth. Determining the network's peak usage times and how they affect application performance is also a smart idea.
Optimize Updates:
Plan network upgrades, updates, settings, and security patches for weekends or overnight hours, when there is less demand for network access.
Establish Policies:
Network teams can establish business policies that automatically assign a higher priority to applications that need to be transmitted in real-time, such as cloud communications technologies and video conferencing, while assigning a lower priority to less important transmissions, like email.
Utilize load balancing:
This technique helps divide network traffic among multiple network pathways, enabling more efficient use of network bandwidth. Managing unexpected direct packet overloads to a different path is another benefit of this step.
