Bandwidths

Bandwidths is the plural form of bandwidth and is used when discussing multiple channels, links, or signals. In telecommunications, bandwidth typically refers to the maximum rate at which data can be transmitted over a channel, usually expressed in bits per second (bps) and scalable units such as Mbps or Gbps. In signal processing and electronics, bandwidth also denotes the width of the frequency spectrum a signal occupies, measured in hertz (Hz) as the difference between its upper and lower frequency limits, often defined using the -3 dB points.

The two senses are related but distinct. The spectral bandwidth of a signal constrains how much information could be carried with suitable modulation, while the data bandwidth of a channel indicates the practical or theoretical maximum data rate under given conditions. The Shannon-Hartley theorem provides a theoretical upper bound on data rate as a function of bandwidth, signal power, and noise. In real systems, actual throughput is usually lower due to overhead, coding, retransmissions, and network effects.

Bandwidths is a key concept in networks, memory systems, and radio. ISPs advertise nominal bandwidth, but observed speeds depend on distance, interference, and how the link is shared among users. In wireless networks, channel widths such as 20, 40, or 80 MHz in Wi‑Fi influence available bandwidth. In computing, bandwidth also describes internal data paths, such as memory or bus bandwidth, indicating how much data can move within a system per unit time.