multigigabitpersecond

Multigigabitpersecond, sometimes written as multigigabit per second or multi-Gbps, describes data transfer rates that are multiple billions of bits per second, typically starting above 1 Gbps and extending into tens or hundreds of Gbps in modern networks. The term is commonly used to characterize both network links and device interfaces where throughput exceeds legacy megabit or gigabit Ethernet speeds but remains below terabit-scale. In practice, multi-Gbps is used to describe practical link rates such as 2.5 Gbps, 5 Gbps, 10 Gbps, 25 Gbps, 40 Gbps, and higher.

Technologies enabling multi-Gbps performance include copper-based Ethernet standards (2.5GBASE-T, 5GBASE-T, 10GBASE-T) using advanced signaling and error correction; fiber-optic Ethernet standards (40GBASE-R, 100GBASE-R), as well as higher-density PHYs in data centers. Other interfaces offering multi-Gbps throughput include PCIe generations (Gen 3/4/5) and USB standards such as USB4, which provide high sustained data rates over hardware interfaces. Wireless variants exist, with Wi-Fi 5/6/7 offering multi-Gbps PHY rates under favorable conditions, though real-world throughput is typically lower.

Applications of multi-Gbps connectivity include data center interconnects, enterprise LANs, storage networking, high-definition media streaming, and high-performance computing. Deployment considerations include cabling quality, distance, spectral efficiency, channel bonding, and the need for appropriate network interface cards (NICs), switches, and transceivers. Energy efficiency and thermal management are also important in dense deployments.

See also: Ethernet standards by speed; USB4; PCI Express; Wi-Fi generations.