Sávszélességének

Sávszélességének (the bandwidth of a communication channel) is a fundamental parameter in information theory and telecommunications that quantifies the amount of data that can be transmitted over a given pathway per unit of time. It is typically expressed in bits per second (bps) or higher units such as kilobits (kbps), megabits (Mbps), or gigabits (Gbps). In practical terms, the wider a channel’s bandwidth, the faster data can be sent, which directly influences network performance, application responsiveness, and user experience.

The concept originates from Claude Shannon’s 1948 paper, where bandwidth was defined as the range of frequencies a channel can successfully carry. In digital systems, bandwidth is closely tied to modulation schemes, error correction codes, and channel capacity limits described by Shannon’s capacity formula: C = B log₂(1+S/N), with B as bandwidth, S the signal power, and N the noise power. Modern wireless technologies such as 4G LTE, 5G NR, and Wi‑Fi 6 optimize bandwidth through techniques like carrier aggregation, Massive MIMO, and OFDM to accommodate increasing data demands.

In wired infrastructures, fiber‑optic links routinely deliver multi‑terabit per second bandwidth, whereas copper Ethernet typically supports up to 10 Gbps. High‑speed networking equipment, including routers and switches, is rated by the aggregate bandwidth they can handle, often measured in Tbps for data centers.

Managing bandwidth efficiently involves traffic shaping, Quality of Service (QoS) policies, and load balancing to prevent congestion. As global data consumption continues to rise, advancements in amplifier technology, adaptive modulation, and network slicing will further expand the achievable bandwidth of future communication networks.