Bandwidth determines how much data can be downloaded per second, which affects speed. Broadband plans limit bandwidth based on speed, with higher limits being more expensive. Many plans have unlimited access, but some online services and mobile broadband have data limits. Website hosts may also place monthly bandwidth limits, and USENET newsgroup services limit accounts. Bandwidth monitors can help users keep track of usage, and website hosts often have built-in monitors and traffic analytics.
Bandwidth, data, and speed are closely related terms and are sometimes used interchangeably. The amount of bandwidth allotted to a computer connection determines how much data can be downloaded per second or transferred from the Internet to your computer. More bandwidth equals more data per second, which translates into faster speeds. In some cases, a bandwidth limit refers to a speed limit, and in other cases, it refers to a data limit.
For example, broadband Internet services sell access plans based on speed, limiting bandwidth based on each plan. Plans with higher limits are more expensive, but faster.
Fortunately, many standard plans include unlimited access, so users don’t have to worry about data download limits. After all, every time the user visits a web page, the page must be transferred to the computer, constituting a download. This says nothing about files, programs, videos and music that someone might download.
Many online services impose limits on the amount of data that can be downloaded in a given period of time. Depending on the service, data limits may apply to browsing and downloading files or programs. A bandwidth limit may also apply to personal domains.
Mobile broadband subscribers (Internet access provided over cell towers), commonly have bandwidth limits. Typically, an account is given a large block of “free” data, with charges for every megabyte downloaded beyond the allotted amount. If the account is contractual, the allotted amount refreshes or restarts every month. If the account is pay as you go, the limit applies to the time segment purchased.
There are also limits associated with domains. People who have their own domains often find that the website host service places a monthly bandwidth limit on the account. Every time someone visits the website, the account accumulates a download deficit which is counted towards this monthly allowance. The more visitors, the more the allowance is reduced. If a popular site has a very low limit, the owner may find themselves paying extra fees or having to upgrade their plan to increase the site’s allocation.
Another example where these limits are found is in USENET newsgroup services. Services that sell access to binary newsgroups where people can share large files typically limit accounts with a limit that prevents downloading more data from the news server than they allotted for the month. Some newsgroup services offer plans that charge a flat monthly fee for unlimited downloads, eliminating the limit.
People who find themselves checking their bandwidth usage on a regular basis might consider installing a bandwidth monitor. Many of these programs are free and will keep a continuous download count along with displaying your connection speed in real time. Some will even issue an alert at user-configurable points to announce and approach the threshold, allowing users to make better decisions about how to spend the rest of their bandwidth allotment.
Those who are only concerned with the bandwidth limit of a website should know that most hosting services have a built-in monitor accessible through the site’s administration interface. In addition to seeing how much bandwidth an account has left for the month, the host may also provide traffic analytics, information that can help improve site content.
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