Networking
This or that
Bandwidth or Latency? Four Mix-ups
Do you know the difference, or do you just think you do?
Quick check · tap an answer to continue
Lesson notes
Calculate transmission and propagation delay and distinguish bandwidth from throughput
Key points
- Bandwidth / Throughput: Bandwidth is the link's maximum rate; throughput is the rate you actually achieve.
- Transmission / Propagation: Transmission delay is file size over bandwidth; propagation delay is distance over signal speed.
- Bandwidth / Latency: Bandwidth is how much per second; latency is how long data takes to arrive end to end.
- Faster link / Shorter cable: Only a shorter cable cuts propagation delay; upgrading bandwidth does not change distance.
Takeaway: Bandwidth sets transmission delay; distance sets propagation delay.
Quick check: 1 MB sent over 3000 km at 10 Mbps: which delay depends on distance?
- Transmission delay
- Propagation delay
- Queuing delay
Propagation delay is distance divided by signal speed, independent of bandwidth.
bandwidthlatencythroughputpropagation delay
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