The Untold Story of Bandwidth and Latency: How They Affect Our Lives
What is Bandwidth?
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be sent from one point to another in a given time frame. It’s measured in bits per second (bps).
When you have a high bandwidth on your internet connection, it does not always mean that the connection actually feels very fast. Bandwidth is usually measured in terms of Mbps or megabits per second.
But you will find that most of the ISPs will talk only about download speed and most people only care that. Upload speed only matters when you are uploading and sending files.
In order to measure bandwidth, it is necessary to know how many bits of data are being transferred and how long it takes for them to get there. Most internet connections today are measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps).
What is Latency ?
Latency is the time delay between a cause and its effect. In the context of trading, latency refers to the delay between an order being placed and it being executed.
Latency is one of the most important factors that traders need to consider when they choose a trading platform. It affects how quickly you can enter or exit trades, and how much risk you are exposed to.
When you ask for a web page to load, it takes a period of time which is known as latency.
Most people will notice about 100-150 ms od delays between their requests.
Is latency and bandwidth related?
Latency and bandwidth are not related. Latency is the time it takes for a packet of data to get from one point to another in a network. Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred per second over a connection.
“Latency” refers to the length of time it takes data packets to reach their destination. If you have low bandwidth, they will take longer and your latency will be higher. Conversely, if you have high bandwidth (faster internet), your latency will be lower: packets go faster because they need less processing time.
How does bandwidth and latency affect internet speed?
A lower latency, or response time, is always desirable for all types of applications. The question is, does increasing bandwidth reduce latency?
The answer to this question is not straightforward and depends on the type of application and the type of network. For example, a voice call over a VoIP connection will have a much lower latency than an online game with many players.
Gaming
Most games with online connectivity don’t require a very fast internet connection, so bandwidth is unlikely to affect your gaming experience (unless lots of people use the same connection at once)
Everything you need to play is already installed on your computer or console.
Streaming
Consider how high-bandwidth you need when selecting a streaming platform. This is because streaming takes little input on your part and begins automatically as soon as you click the link to start broadcasting.
Low bandwidth will usually show itself in two ways. It will either manifest as a painful amount of buffering as your connection tries to keep up with the size of the content. When you try to stream something, your device has to compensate for the slow download speed by lowering down the streaming quality.
Video chat
Video chat apps, like FaceTime or Skype, can be hard to use at times. Low bandwidth will affect the quality of your chat, making things hard to see. Latency also causes sync issues and freezing and reduces the overall experience.
Browsing
Low bandwidth can drastically slow down your web browsing experience. Pages may load slowly and in segments (like they did in the old “dial-up” days)
And with high latency, pages may load super fast but there will be a maddening delay at the beginning where it seems like nothing’s happening.
Why Does It Matter How Fast My Network Is?
A high speed internet connection is important in today’s world. It is not just about being able to download a movie or TV show in minutes. A fast internet connection can help you with tasks such as uploading a video, sending emails and transferring files.
It is important to have an internet connection that is fast enough for all of your needs. Not only will it make your life easier but it will also save you time and money.