Breaking Down Internet Terms and How They Connect

Internet terms can get thrown around often, but do you know what they all mean and how they connect? Let's break it down.

Bandwidth is defined as the capacity for data transfer of an electronic communications system. The best way to think about bandwidth is the size of a garden hose. Incoming Data from the internet would be considered the water coming from that hose, and the speed or time it takes to fill up a one-gallon bucket would be considered the Mbps or megabits per second (not to be confused with megaBYTES which are used to describe to file sizes).

So, let's say you are trying to fill up a one-gallon bucket of water. If you have a smaller hose, it's going to take you a very long time because the hose capacity can only hold a certain amount of water. However, if you have a larger hose, then more water can be pumped through it, which means the bucket fills up faster.

Lots of Devices = More Speed

People don't always realize that the more users and devices being used at one time can dramatically impact internet service. For example, if Netflix is running on two TVs, security cameras are continuously monitoring your home, someone is playing Xbox, and someone else is working from home (Zoom meetings, emails downloads, etc.), then something like 60 Mbps isn't going to be enough to provide a seamless online experience to all those devices. This would result in constant lagging or buffering. To avoid this issue, it is recommended that you match your internet speed with what best fits your online usage. In this example, we'd recommend 500 Mbps or even 1 Gig (which = 1,000 Mbps)!

To help you determine which internet plan is best for you, use our Bandwidth estimator.

What does BTC Broadband offer?

BTC Broadband offers our customers a variety of affordable internet plans to fit your lifestyle and your budget. All our internet options include unlimited data and zero throttling. With the BTC Broadband Wi-Fi app, you can set up parental controls, real-time security updates, create guest networks, and more!

Please visit our website to learn more about the different packages we offer, including current promotions, or feel free to call us at (918)366-8000.