Bandwidth Definition

The bandwidth definition is referred to as the maximum rate of data that can be transmitted through a network per unit time. Bandwidth is measured by bits per second or megabits per second (Mbps). The higher the bandwidth, the more data can be transmitted through the network within a given amount of time, and the faster the data reaches its destination.

Every network connection is allocated with a specific bandwidth. For example, an ADSL Internet connection that is enabled through copper telephone cable has a bandwidth of 25 Mbps. A gigabit Ethernet connection has a bandwidth of 1000 Mbps. When you upload and download data from a network the network bandwidth is consumed. The point at which you reach the maximum bandwidth you can consume is called the bandwidth limit.

Bandwidth is directly proportionate to the network connection speed. As bandwidth increases, the speed of your Internet connection also increases. If you connect more devices to your network and use a lot of data-intensive applications, the network bandwidth reduces as the bandwidth is divided up and can be consumed heavily. When the network bandwidth is not sufficient for your usage the speed of the network connection also slows down.

The types of bandwidth

There are 2 types of bandwidth based on the electromagnetic band inside the bandwidth.

1. Baseband
   Baseband uses the whole band to send or receive only one signal at a time. As baseband uses very low-frequency waves that deteriorate over a long distance, it is used for short-distance communication such as within a local area network or Ethernet.
2. Broadband
   Broadband allows you to send and receive multiple signals at the same time. As broadband uses very high-frequency waves that can travel a long distance to transmit data, it is used in long-distance communication devices such as television and radio.