Speed of data transfer in the Internet

The Internet has easily and firmly entered the life of modern man and has become an integral part of it. The network is communication, work, hobbies. Much is now associated with it. Therefore, the ways of connecting to the Internet are developing, among which we can mention fiber-optic, coaxial cables, Wi-Fi and 3G. In this case, the data transfer rate depends on the provider and the selected tariff. The way to connect to the Web is also important. Let's consider some of them in more detail.

Before talking about the speed with which data can be transmitted on the Internet, you need to determine how these data are measured. Among professionals engaged in computer technology, and amateurs-users of PCs adopted as a unit of measurement of the data transfer rate of bytes, bits. The international standard established that these units should be used with the SI prefix. As with any unit of measurement, there are exact characteristics of the bit and byte. So, the megabit is equal to one hundred and twenty-five thousand by 8-bit bytes, and one hundred and twenty-five kilobytes are equal to about one hundred twenty-two kibibytes. In telecommunication or computer networks use the designation "megabit", which characterizes the speed with which data is transferred to the network.

And now, from the theory, we turn to the consideration of existing communication lines, which differ in the way information is transmitted. Allocate wire lines, cable and wireless. The former are used to transmit computer data and telephone signals. They are organized for the transmission of information channels, both analog and digital. To the cable communication lines that are applicable in computer networks, there are three types of cable: twisted pair (data transfer rate is 10 to 100 megabits per second), coaxial (used in Ethernet networks) and fiber optic cable. The latter is able to transmit a signal in only one direction. But while it is the most protected from interference and is capable of transmitting information at high speed - up to three gigabits per second.

Wireless links include cellular and satellite communications. And experts recognize that the future is precisely behind such communication facilities, for which no wires are needed.

3G networks have spread in Russia thanks to leading mobile operators: Beeline, MTS and Megafon. To take advantage of network access, it is enough to have a cell phone or USB-modem, which supports networks of the 3rd generation. The phone automatically starts to work in the 3G network, if it does not interfere with the GSM signal. This does not require additional settings. To increase the data transfer speed, the device needs to switch to the "3G Only" mode, which allows to transfer the 3G-terminal (modem or cellular phone) to UMTS mode. As a result, even with a weak signal, the speed of downloading data from the Internet can increase.

Such radio channels for data transfer, like Wi-Fi, WiMAX can transmit information at a distance of up to fifty kilometers and provide at the same speed up to seventy megabits per second.

In the UMTS network, the maximum data transfer rate is forty-eight kilobytes per second. This is quite enough to browse web pages. But thanks to new developments, the technology HSPA, which was called 3.5G. This is a high-speed transmission of packet data from the network to the client (HSDPA) and from the client to the network (HSUPA). Thanks to the new technology, the information is transmitted at a speed of 3.6 Mbps. Not all modern devices can still work with it.

Access to the Internet is provided through cables. This form of connection to the network is common among owners of stationary PCs. When using a coaxial cable, the transmission speed can be from two hundred and fifty to five hundred kilobits per second. If two cables are used, then an unmodulated signal is received one by one, and the second signal is a timer signal. The data is transmitted in HDLC format, which includes information about the beginning and end of the message, as well as control information, in addition to the information itself.