Mbps

Mbps stands for megabits per second, a unit used to quantify data transfer speed in telecommunications and computer networking. It measures how quickly bits can be transmitted between devices or over a network link. A key distinction is between bits and bytes: the lowercase b denotes bits, while the uppercase B denotes bytes. Since 1 byte equals 8 bits, 8 Mbps equals 1 MBps (megabyte per second).

Most commonly, Mbps refers to decimal megabits per second, i.e., 1 Mbps equals 1,000,000 bits per second. In some contexts, especially technical specifications, data rates may be contrasted with mebibits per second (Mibit/s), which use a binary base (1,048,576 bits per Mibit). For everyday consumer use, Mbps is the standard measure.

Mbps is used to describe both the speed of an internet connection and the throughput of a network link. It indicates the potential rate at which data can be transmitted, but actual throughput can be lower due to protocol overhead, network congestion, and other factors. For example, a 100 Mbps link might deliver roughly 90–95 Mbps of usable throughput under typical conditions.

Common contexts include residential internet plans, enterprise networks, and wireless standards. Consumer plans often feature asymmetrical speeds, with higher download speeds than upload speeds. Fiber connections frequently offer symmetric speeds (equal download and upload rates), while DSL and cable can vary.

See also: bandwidth, throughput, data rate, megabit versus megabyte, speed test.