Internet Bandwidth vs Network Speed: What's the Difference? - MiniTool

The difference between network bandwidth and network speed is often confusing, and the definitions of the two are easily confused. This article will clearly explain the differences between network bandwidth and network speed, and provide some practical tips for maintaining network bandwidth and network speed.

Detailed explanation of network bandwidth and network speed

First of all, what is network bandwidth? Many people confuse it with internet speed, but the two are actually different and there are subtle differences.

Let's distinguish network bandwidth and network speed!

Network bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data transmitted over an Internet connection within a given time, that is, the amount of information received per second. The unit of network bandwidth is megabits per second (Mbps).

Internet speed refers to the maximum speed of data transmission, that is, the speed of information reception or download. The network speed unit is also megabits per second (Mbps).

Latency is related to bandwidth and speed. It refers to the delay experienced when waiting for content to load, that is, the time it takes to obtain information from the information source.

For example:

If you use a water pipe to fill an empty pool, the amount of water flowing out is bandwidth, and the flow rate of the water is network speed; and the time required to fill the pool is delay.

Factors

Regarding network speed and bandwidth, let’s first look at factors that may affect their performance.

The following situations may waste your bandwidth:

• Applications running in the background
• Peer-to-peer download
• OneDrive Transfer
• Continuously running synchronous tasks

Here are some potential problems:

• Wireless connection
• Virus Problems
• Other equipment that may cause interference
• The program you are using is overloaded

How to maintain network bandwidth and network speed?

Based on the influencing factors, we can deduce corresponding solutions to maintain network bandwidth and network speed.

Method 1: Scan the malware

Certain viruses or malware hidden in your computer can waste your network bandwidth. You can scan your computer regularly to make sure there are no viruses.

Windows Defender is a built-in program to protect your computer. You can also use third-party antivirus software to scan for viruses.

Method 2: Adjust the cloud backup application

Uncontrolled cloud backup consumes the most bandwidth. So, if you are backing up your data to the cloud, it is best to make sure that the backup application has a tuning mechanism.

Method 3: Stop accessing platforms containing multimedia content

Such media streaming websites consume more bandwidth than other platforms. So if these sites are not useful to you, you can block access to media streaming sites.

Method 4: Use proxy cache

Agent cache is used to store and deliver frequently visited websites, images, and objects on the Internet. It can increase website access speed, minimize data downloads, and reduce bandwidth usage. Therefore, it can be a good tool for maintaining network bandwidth and network speed.

Summarize:

Now that you have a complete description of network bandwidth and speed, you can choose the right internet package for your business based on their nuances.

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