Bandwidth vs. Latency - two components of the internet that influence your internet speed. You can forget about a smooth online experience if either is missing, so it's important to understand how both work.
The gist: Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data sent, and latency is a measure of how fast this data travels from one point to another and back. Read on for more context and a detailed comparison.
What is Bandwidth?
Bandwidth is often confused with internet speed, but there’s a difference. Bandwidth is the maximum number of data packets that can travel in a given time frame, whereas speed represents how fast the data packets move.
Bandwidth is typically measured in Megabits per second (Mbps) and Gigabits per second (Gbps)
Bandwidth can be explained using a pipe/water hose as a reference. More water can pass through a wide hose per unit time as compared to a narrow hose. Therefore, more data packets can be transferred simultaneously when you have more bandwidth.
High-bandwidth internet prevents network congestion by making room for a larger number of users or devices. It facilitates file transfer by allowing faster downloads and uploads. As a result, you can say goodbye to slow loading of websites/mobile apps, video/audio buffering, pixilation/blurry images, game lags, etc.
What is Latency?
Latency is the time it takes data packets to travel from a user’s device to a server and back. It is often referred to as “ping” because it represents the delay between a request and a response. Using the water pipe analogy above, latency can be assumed as the length of the pipe.
Latency is typically measured in milliseconds (ms)
The greater the distance between a device and a server, the more time it will take for the data packets to travel back and forth. Therefore, longer distances cause high latency (bad), and short distances deliver low latency (good).
Internet with a latency of up to 40ms is excellent, and a latency of up to 100ms is also considered decent. High latency (100ms and above) is mostly evident in real-time applications, such as video conferencing and multiplayer gaming; you may experience lag, screen freezing, distorted audio, frequent disconnections, etc.
Bandwidth vs. Latency: Key Differences
| Factor | Bandwidth | Latency |
|---|---|---|
| Unit of Measurement | Mbps/Gbps | ms |
| Role | Amount of data transferred | Speed of data transferred |
| Importance | Streaming, downloads | Gaming, VoIP, real-time use |
High Bandwidth vs. Low Latency: Why Both Matter for Internet Performance?
High bandwidth and low latency are the duo you need for balanced internet performance. Each of them impacts different use cases; hence, their importance may differ by user.
📡 High bandwidth matters more if:
- You want to stream in HD or 4K without interruption
- You wish to quickly download or upload heavy files/content
- You have a large number of smart devices at home
⌛ Low latency matters more if:
- You frequently run real-time applications
- You’re a gamer and/or live streamer
- You require high-quality audio and video during Zoom meetings for work
Every household has a mix of light and heavy internet users with varying hobbies. One person in the house could be a hardcore gamer, a second person may work from home full-time, and a third might be someone who binge-watches Netflix shows in 4K every day.
To conclude, you cannot go wrong with an internet connection that offers ample bandwidth and ultra-low latency. Switching to a fiber-optic internet provider is how you can achieve both!
How to Improve Bandwidth and Latency
While upgrading to a high-tier internet plan or fiber internet is the ultimate solution, you can try a number of quick fixes beforehand.
🌐 Tips to manage bandwidth:
- Switch from Wi-Fi to Ethernet
- Use an alternate (less congested) Wi-Fi band
- Stream in standard quality/low resolution
- Remove idle/unused devices from the network
- Upgrade your router
⚡ Tips to reduce latency:
- Update your device software and router firmware
- Use an Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi
- Optimize router placement
- Choose gaming servers near you
- Download one file at a time
- Remove malware from your system
We recommended running a speed test to learn about your internet connection’s speed and latency. You may contact your ISP for assistance in case download and upload speeds are not up to par, and latency is too high.
Now that you know the difference between bandwidth and latency, and how both affect your internet’s performance, which one would you prioritize? Let us know what matters more to you and why.
FAQs
Bandwidth vs Latency: Which is important for gaming?
Both high bandwidth and low latency are recommended for a smooth gaming experience. However, latency is relatively more important for gaming because high ping causes delays and lag that spoil gameplay.
Internet Speed vs Bandwidth: What’s the difference?
Internet speed can be defined as how much distance data packets travel per unit time, whereas bandwidth is the maximum number of data packets traveling per unit time.
What is good latency for gaming?
The lower the latency, the better the gameplay. While anything below 40ms is excellent, latency up to 100ms is acceptable for gaming.
