Broadband Internet: Bandwidth vs. Speed

By Beehive Broadband | April 20, 2023

To succeed in today’s technology-driven world, access to the internet is vital.

Determining what type of internet speed and bandwidth connection you need, however, is difficult when you’re bombarded by companies promising the fastest broadband internet speed with the largest bandwidth.

So how do you determine what internet speed and bandwidth you need? And what exactly is internet bandwidth?

In this article, we will provide you with all the insight you need to make an informed decision when it comes to selecting your residential broadband.

What Is Internet Bandwidth?

Internet bandwidth refers to the amount of digital information, or data per unit of time that your internet connection can handle.

When it comes to data or digital information, this information will be able to be uploaded or downloaded in a certain timeframe, depending on your internet speed and the size of your bandwidth.
Now let’s take a look at what we mean by internet bandwidth and why it is important when selecting your internet service at home.

One megabyte per second is equal to 8 megabits per second.

Bandwidth is generally referred to as megabits per second (Mbps).

If we are referring to 100 Mbps, this means that your data is able to transfer (download or upload on your device) at a rate of 100 million bits each second.

So, the larger the bandwidth, the quicker data and information can move.

When you are considering what internet service package to sign up for, packages will usually be priced according to bandwidth size.

An easier way to understand bandwidth is to view it like plumbing.

Think of bandwidth as the size of the pipe and data as the water.

The bigger the pipe, the more water is able to flow through it in a certain amount of time—in other words, the bigger the bandwidth, the more data you can process at a faster rate.

This analogy also holds true when you think about bandwidth for an entire home.

Just like the water pipe in your home, bandwidth is a fixed size.

When the pipe is running multiple faucets simultaneously, the water pressure (and speed) is lower because there’s only so much water (bandwidth) available for the house.
It’s the same principle for your home’s internet connection.

One person may be able to play an online video game with no interruption or lag, but as soon as other devices start accessing the same internet connection at the same time, the speed and quality is reduced if you don’t have enough bandwidth.

This is because the bandwidth size that you have on your internet contract, is fixed to a certain size.

If this is happening to you regularly, you may be in need of an upgrade to your internet service package.

At Beehive Broadband, we offer data packages for bandwidth of between 100Mbps to 1000Mbps. This means that we are able to offer you the bandwidth you need to run multiple internet connected devices at the same time.

You could for example connect your gaming console, laptop, tablet and multiple mobile phones, as well as stream television – all at the same time.

We offer 100Mbps at just $59.95 and 1000Mbps at $99.95 per month.

To see if our internet services are available in your area, Check Your Address.

Bandwidth Vs. Speed

It is important to remember that bandwidth does not equal speed. It’s related, but not equivalent.

As we mentioned earlier in this article, bandwidth is like the size of the pipe, not the speed (rate) of the water flowing through it.

Yes, a bigger bandwidth allows more data to pass through, which will increase the rate, but that doesn’t mean that your internet speed will be the same as your bandwidth.

You can increase your bandwidth by adding another line, meaning that instead of two files competing for 100 Mbps, you can transfer them both simultaneously without giving up any speed.

Think of it as a highway—even if more lanes are added to help with traffic flow, the speed limit is still the same.

How Much Internet Speed Do You Need?

So, how much internet speed do you need? That depends.

You can do an internet speed test here to check internet speed here on the Beehive Broadband website to see how fast your broadband connection is running.

You will get a few different speed measurements, along with an explanation for each measurement. These will include:

• Ping.
• Jitter.
• Download Speed.
• Upload Speed

Once you have your speed test results and you know what your current upload speeds and download speeds are, you’ll need to consider how much internet you use at your home.

Could it be that you only use a laptop every now and then? Or, do you, or you and your family want to be able to have multiple devices streaming at the same time?

Your maximum speed – or download speed and upload speed – will determine how many devices you can use on the internet at the same time.

For example, you may need higher internet speeds so that you have no interference, or lag, when you:

• Have a video call.
• Enjoy online gaming.
• Stream TV such as Netflix or Disney.
• Monitor your home via internet enabled security cameras.

There are different internet speeds available when you are looking to upgrade your broadband.

Here is a basic breakdown to give you some baseline requirements for different download and upload speeds:

Why should I choose 50 Mbps?

Good for browsing and minimal downloading. Best for small households. If you live alone and are not a heavy online gamer or Netflix binge-watcher, this speed will probably be sufficient for your needs.

Why should I choose 100 Mbps?

Better for multiple users with moderate downloading and streaming. Good for families. If you have a family with multiple devices that stream videos and TV, this is a reasonable option.

Why should I choose 1 GBPS?

Ideal for online gamers, big families or lots of devices running simultaneously. This speed is great if you need a high upload speed for online games and TV/movie streaming services.

Remember that you can run a bandwidth speed test at any time to check that you are getting the correct internet speeds at all times.

Why should I choose Beehive Broadband?

At Beehive Broadband, we serve many locations in the states of Utah and Nevada.

To find out if we’re able to provide you with broadband internet in your area, Check Your Address.

We also encourage you to contact our Beehive Broadband Support today to learn how Beehive’s internet service can meet your bandwidth and internet speed needs!