Network Speeds (Edexcel GCSE Computer Science)

Network Speeds

What is network speed?

• Network speed is the amount of data that can be transferred across a network in 1 second

• The higher the network speed, the more data can be transferred, and in less time

• Network speed is measured in bits per second (bps)

File Size, Transmission Rate & Time

• You can calculate the amount of time it would take to transfer data across a network using the file size and transmission rate

What is transmission rate?

• Transmission rate is the speed at which data is transferring across a network at that given moment in time

• Transmission rate is measured in bits per second (bps)

• Transmission rate is closely linked with network speed but with a subtle difference:

  • Transmission rate = given moment in time, can fluctuate

  • Network speed = fixed value, maximum rate (that you pay for)

• File sizes are covered in more detail here

How do you calculate amount of time?

• To calculate the amount of time to transfer data across a network, use the formula:

  • Time = size of file (bits) / network speed (bits)

Example

"Construct an expression to show how many seconds it would take to transfer 750 KiB of data on a network with a speed of 5 Mbps"

• Step 1 - convert file size to bits

• Step 2 - convert network speed to bits

• Step 3 - Construct expression