"Bob, what does 'bandwidth' mean?"
Earlier this week I was in a video conference with an excellent team from a regional ISP on behalf of one of my clients. Of course the term “bandwidth” was used multiple times in the conversation. I was reminded again of how much this term has changed over the years. Personally, I wish the term was only used in analog frequency contexts, but language is a living thing and the meanings of words change. Here now, for you, is a lexicon of sorts: a brief list of the various meanings given by digital technologists to the word “bandwidth.”

DOWNLOAD SPEED
Maximum Bandwidth: the maximum data transfer rate of incoming data, measured in bits per second (bps), Kbps, Mbps, Gbps, or Tbps. This value may be deliberately rate-limited, or it may be determined by the physical characteristics of the system.

Current Bandwidth: the instantaneous, as-measured data transfer rate of incoming data, measured in bits per second (bps), Kbps, Mbps, Gbps, or Tbps.

UPLOAD SPEED
Maximum Bandwidth: the maximum data transfer rate of outgoing data, measured in bits per second (bps), Kbps, Mbps, Gbps, or Tbps. This value may be deliberately rate-limited, or it may be determined by the physical characteristics of the system.

Current Bandwidth: the instantaneous, as-measured data transfer rate of outgoing data, measured in bits per second (bps), Kbps, Mbps, Gbps, or Tbps.

In the context of metered data, “bandwidth” also has these additional meanings.

MONTHLY DATA CAP
Monthly Bandwidth: The maximum amount of data that can be transferred during the billing cycle. This may be specified as download, upload, or combined up/down data. In this context, the unit of measure is bytes, not bits, so the acronym when correctly written uses a capital B: KB, MB, GB, TB. It does not specify “per second.”

MONTHLY DATA ALLOWED BEFORE THROTTLING
Unlimited Bandwidth: Many “unlimited” data plans include a limit (for example, 100 GB) at the maximum download speed, and after that the customer can still download data, but at a slower, rate-limited speed.

AMOUNT OF DATA USED DURING THE BILLING CYCLE
Actual Bandwidth: This use of the term “bandwidth” answers questions like, “What’s our average monthly bandwidth consumption?” If the average monthly data downloaded is 10 GB and a company is on a 100 GB plan, they may be able to save money by dropping to a 50 GB plan. It also allows the network engineer to see if the company is consistently hitting the throttling limit, in which case the bandwidth allowed in the plan should be increased.

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