What is the difference between Mbps and MB/s?
Mbps (megabits per second) and MB/s (megabytes per second) are both speed units, but 1 byte = 8 bits. So 100 Mbps ÷ 8 = 12.5 MB/s. Internet speeds are almost always advertised in Mbps (megabits), while file sizes and download speeds shown in apps are usually in MB/s (megabytes). Always check the unit before comparing.
Why is my actual speed lower than advertised?
Network protocols like TCP/IP add overhead headers (typically 5–10%), other devices share your connection, server-side throttling may apply, and Wi-Fi has more overhead than wired ethernet. The efficiency slider in this calculator accounts for these real-world factors. A 90% efficiency is typical for good wired connections; 70–80% for Wi-Fi.
How much bandwidth does video streaming need?
Netflix recommends: SD 1 Mbps, HD 5 Mbps, 4K 25 Mbps. YouTube HD is ~5 Mbps, 4K ~20 Mbps. Disney+ 4K also requires ~25 Mbps. For a household with 3–5 people streaming 4K simultaneously, you need 75–125 Mbps just for video. Add gaming (3–6 Mbps), video calls (1.5–8 Mbps per person), and background updates for a complete picture. Note: Indian and Southeast Asian streaming platforms (JioStar, Hotstar, Viu, WeTV) typically use 30–50% less bandwidth than Netflix equivalents due to mobile-optimised encoding.
What bandwidth do I need for a VoIP/video call?
Standard VoIP calls need ~0.1 Mbps. Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet video calls: standard 600 Kbps, HD 1.5 Mbps, 1080p 2–3 Mbps. Requirements are broadly similar across platforms — video codecs converge on the same bitrates regardless of app. For a business with 20 concurrent video calls in HD, plan for at least 40 Mbps dedicated upload bandwidth, plus margin for other traffic.
How do I calculate bandwidth for file backup?
Use the transfer time calculator on this page. Enter your backup data size (e.g., 500 GB) and your upload speed. With a 50 Mbps upload, 500 GB takes about 22 hours. For nightly backups, ensure your backup window fits: 500 GB needs 6.25 MB/s sustained, so you need at least 50 Mbps upload capacity available during the backup window. Note: most home broadband plans have significantly lower upload than download speeds — a 100 Mbps connection may only offer 10–20 Mbps upload. Check your upload speed specifically when planning backups.
What are typical internet speeds by country?
Average fixed broadband speeds vary widely: South Korea ~250 Mbps, Singapore ~230 Mbps, US ~200 Mbps, UK ~80 Mbps, India 50–80 Mbps fixed (25–40 Mbps mobile), Indonesia ~25 Mbps, Nigeria ~10–15 Mbps, Pakistan ~10–20 Mbps. Mobile data is the primary connection for many users in India, Africa, and Southeast Asia — and often comes with daily data caps (1–2 GB/day on Indian Jio plans, for example). Use the Mobile Data Cap field above to estimate transfer time across cap-limited sessions.