Bandwidth vs. Latency: We Chatted With an Internet Connectivity Expert to Understand the Difference

Having quick and reliable internet at home is essential these days for work, school, streaming and navigation. But understanding the speed you need, or even what “Internet speed” means, can be an intimidating task. The bandwidth and latency are two key factors that affect the way we perceive the speed of our Internet connection. But even if you hear them used together quite often, these two terms have separate meanings. Understand what they are and the difference between them can help you help your internet at home – that you are cable,, fiber,, Dsl,, 5g Or satellite.

Here is the simple distribution of Mike Conlow, network strategy director at Cloudflare, an Internet infrastructure company: “The bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted at the same time. The latency measures the time that the data takes to get from your computer where it happens (and often to obtain recognition of reception to your computer). ”

Conlow illustrates the bandwidth and latency concepts using the metaphor of cars and a highway. The bandwidth is the number of tracks (more tracks means a higher bandwidth), and the latency is the time when you need a car on this highway to reach its destination (a faster journey time means lower latency).

What is bandwidth?

The bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred to an internet connection in a specific time. This is expressed in megabits per second (Mbps) or Gigabits per second (GBPS). Let’s say you Purchase for Internet And compare the plans of the XFINITY cable supplier. You can choose from different bandwidth levels. You can see plans ranging from 150 Mbps to 1,200 Mbps. If I were an Internet user with many devices, large files and demanding streaming and playing needs, I would be interested in a higher bandwidth plan, such as the 1,200 Mbps option.

How to understand my bandwidth?

Check the details of your internet supplier plan. Let’s say you have the basic plan of Google Fiber 1 Gig. Your potential bandwidth is 1,000 Mbps (or 1 Gbit / s) for downloads and downloads because the fibers generally offer a symmetrical connection (the same speed for downloads and downloads). If you have Internet 5G (as I do with T-Mobile 5g Home Internet), the bandwidth becomes more vague. The bandwidth available to your home can fluctuate according to the strength of your wireless signal, the placement of your equipment and your congestion of the network.

Is the bandwidth equal to a speed?

When we talk about “speed”, we often mean the announced download and download speeds of an internet plan. But you will hear the speed launched in all kinds of contexts with regard to the internet at home. “It is really confusing that” speed “has become a tote when it refers to the bandwidth,” explains Conlow.

The bandwidth is just a component of how your Internet works. What is more important is the way your plan actually works for you, day after day. Higher bandwidth plans can be correlated with a faster experience, but other factors come into play – including the equipment you use, the type of internet connection and latency (more about this in a moment) of your connection.

Use an internet speed test to get an idea of ​​what’s going on with your connection. Consult the CNET speed test recommendations, including our superior option, Ookla. (Ookla belongs to the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) A good speed test will provide data on your download speed, download speed and latency. Do not be surprised if you do not hit the maximum speed of your plan. Real speeds may vary from speeds announced with most types of Internet connections.

What is latency?

Latence is a neglected factor in internet performance. The time it takes for your data to move have a significant impact on the speed or slowdown in your experience. This is particularly true for online players who need their orders to register quickly. If you save the world, you don’t want to twidle your thumbs while waiting for your removal of the final boss.

But a low latency is desirable for any Internet user. “It is a common news idea that only players must worry about having a low latency internet connection and most users should have a very high bandwidth connection,” explains Conlow. Conlow uses Netflix as an example. Netflix recommends a 15 Mbps download connection for 4K streaming video. Do the calculation and you would need 67 people who look at every 4K on their devices to saturate a connection of 1 Gbit / s. Of course, our households now have many other competitions for this bandwidth. However, this Gigabit connection will be exaggerated for most houses.

Do I need a higher bandwidth or latency?

Let us feel at this connection of 1 Gbit / s. “Meanwhile, the use of web navigation as something that everyone does on the Internet, academic research and the proper work of Cloudflare have shown that more than 25 Mbps, the web pages does not take care more quickly – a user does not benefit from a connection of 1 Gbit / s”, explains Conlow. On the other hand, he underlines how a lower latency connection can help the web pages to load more quickly and to offer a better global experience. Looking for a low latency? As a rule, internet fiber has lower latency than other types of connections.

And ping?

You could hear the “ping” and “latency” used interchangeably, especially if you are involved in the game community. The terms are linked, but they are not exactly the same thing. Ping is a latency measure, expressed in milliseconds (MS).

The same speed test you use to get an instant in your internet connection can tell you your ping rate. Find a result below the download and download numbers labeled “Ping” or “Latence”. For example, I did an Ookla test on my laptop connected by Wi-Fi to my T-Mobile 5g Home Internet door. The test used a server in the same city as me. This gave me three ping numbers: 54 ms (when inactive at the start of the test), 230 ms (while the download test was in progress) and 621 ms (while the download test was in progress).

Download and download pings simulate conditions when the network is used. If I were a player, I would probably shop for a new Internet supplier. Ideally, I would like a ping of 50 ms or less, or at least than 100 ms. As it stands, I sometimes notice that the websites are slowly taking care of video or video stuttering when I am in a zoom meeting. Are you a player? Read these tips to lower your ping.

Remember that a speed test is an instantaneous internet connection to a particular device at a given time. You can see different results depending on the device, the server at which the speed test connects, the day of the day and if you are connected via a wireless or wireless network. Learn the difference between Wi-Fi and Ethernet.

Bandwidth and latency: What can you control?

The bandwidth tends to be an easier factor to control. If available, you can upgrade your internet plan. For example, I went from a DSL plan of 20 Mbps to the internet service at T-Mobile home, where I am sometimes at the top of download of 100 Mbps in speed tests. It was a significant upgrade of performance for my house. If the bandwidth is a snack point, consider a higher bandwidth plan or go to another.

Conlow recommends keeping your internet equipment at home improved, whether you get your equipment from your ISP or provide yours. “There have been spectacular improvements in Wi-Fi and other technologies that manage latency,” he said. He also suggests hard wiring devices – such as televisions and desktop computers – who do not need to be moved. “Wi-Fi itself can be a cause of latency, and the hardness will be a faster and more stable connection,” he explains. Finally, do not hesitate to contact your ISP. There may be a repairable problem or a place to improve the end of your ISP.

Latence VS FAQ bandwidth