Bandwidth Vs. Latency: Which Is More Important?

December 2, 2020

These two components have a high impact on how quick and responsive our internet connection feels. If you had a choice, would you trade one in favor of the other? Which one would matter more for you? Let’s find out what bandwidth and latency actually are. Then we can see if one truly beats the other, or if both carry equal weight.

The importance of Bandwidth

Bandwidth has to do with the maximum capacity of your internet connection, not its responsiveness. It’s the amount of data transferred over a period of time, usually one second. Think of it as a way to measure data transfer, similar to how we measure the flow rate of water through a pipe.

How much data we can transfer in a second depends on our bandwidth. For example, an internet provider might offer a package with 100 Mbps of bandwidth. That number is the maximum capacity of your connection. So now that you know what bandwidth is, you’re probably wondering how it affects performance.

A higher bandwidth often means faster internet and less time spent transferring data, which can make for a smoother experience depending on the task. With a 100 Mbps connection, you can download up to 100 Mbps of data at a time. But how does network latency affect that data transfer?

The importance of Latency

Lag or buffering usually points to latency, not bandwidth. Latency, or ping, is the time it takes for data to travel from one location to another. When a data transfer happens, the packet still has to travel physically, through wireless or wired connections. Network latency is what dictates that travel time.

Think back to the water pipe illustration. Bandwidth is the quantity of water flowing through the pipe in a given time. Latency is the time it takes to see water come out after you turn the tap on. Better network performance means aiming higher for bandwidth, but lower for latency.

The lower your latency, the better your internet speed. The internet has become a big part of our lives, shaping how we work, play, and connect. Companies now use it to expand their reach globally, growing their businesses further than ever before. Even in our downtime, most of us turn to the internet for movies, gaming, or social media.

As websites, platforms, apps, and servers grow more advanced, they need the right resources behind them. Small and large companies alike, along with individual users, need a better, faster, and more reliable connection to keep up with improving technology. When it comes to internet performance specifically, two components drive it: bandwidth and latency.

Do you have a more reactive connection? So now that you know what both of them are, you are wondering which one is more important?

Bandwidth or latency: Which is better?

Both bandwidth and latency play a significant role in your internet speed, and if we had to name a winner, we couldn’t. They work more like teammates than competitors: for the best performance, you want high bandwidth paired with low latency. But how does that combination actually affect your experience?

A higher bandwidth lets you transfer more data in a set period of time. Lower latency means that data takes less time to travel. In practice, this plays out differently depending on what you’re doing online, since one factor often matters slightly more than the other. Let’s look at a few examples.

Streaming video and music: bandwidth takes the lead

If you’re watching a movie on Netflix or listening to music on Spotify, bandwidth is the factor that matters most. A long latency here might cause a brief delay before your video or song starts playing. But once it does, adequate bandwidth keeps the experience smooth. Lower bandwidth, on the other hand, can bring poor audio and video quality or buffering disruptions.

Live video and gaming: latency takes the lead

On the other hand, when you’re watching a live stream, latency matters more. High latency can create long delays between what you do and what your viewers see. If your audience reacts late to something you did a while ago, high latency is likely the cause.

Online gaming is huge, and bandwidth plays an essential role in a good gaming experience. Latency, though, tends to impact gamers even more, since most online games depend on fast reaction times. High latency is the real issue here: it can delay your character’s response to your commands and potentially ruin the entire experience.

Working from home has become more common with better internet access, and video meetings are a key part of it. Good video calls need both strong bandwidth and low latency. Low latency prevents delays, while high bandwidth keeps the audio and video quality sharp.

What is a good latency speed?

Now that you know what bandwidth and latency are, you’re probably wondering what values would maximize your internet performance. As mentioned, one factor can matter slightly more than the other depending on the situation. If you want an exact target for latency, here’s some guidance.

Going back to our gaming example, a latency of about 100ms or less works fine for most games. But if you want the optimal latency for your internet performance across the board, aim for 20 to 40ms. A speed in that range eliminates most lag and gives you a smoother experience overall.

What is a good bandwidth speed?

An average internet speed ranges from 12 to 25 Mbps, and bandwidth is a big part of that number. Good internet performance depends on both bandwidth and latency, so both matter. We’ve already covered the optimal latency speed. So what’s the ideal bandwidth speed?

One way to measure internet performance is through download speed, and the average I mentioned above is what most people in the US have. Service providers also offer basic packages of 3 to 8 Mbps, and advanced packages that exceed 25 Mbps. Bigger isn’t always better, though. It really depends on what you use the internet for.

For a household with a single user on one device at a time, basic service speeds usually cover moderate use just fine. If you have four or more users or devices running at once, or you transfer large files and stream in 4K, the advanced speeds are worth it. And if you’re stuck choosing between two options just 10Mbps apart, you probably won’t notice the difference. In that case, save the money and go with the lower one.

Whatever you choose, keep in mind that fiber optic connections offer speeds ranging from 100 to 2,000 Mbps. That’s a considerable difference in performance.

Conclusion

We’ve covered just a few examples where bandwidth and latency matter, but the applications go on and on, scaling all the way up to large corporations and server infrastructure. The internet is vast. That makes a good connection, with high bandwidth and low latency, essential.

There’s no competition here, only close collaboration between the two, working together for the fastest connection when you need it most. No matter what you’re doing online, remember that both components shape your experience. And if you’re having trouble with your connection, it’s probably time to contact your internet provider.

Ready to learn more about how latency and bandwidth compare?

At Volico Data Centers, we work with enterprises across industries that depend on low latency, high-bandwidth network connections. Low latency networks prevent missed opportunities from lost data, opening the door to new business opportunities. A review of your most critical applications and network speed needs can help you find the right balance between low latency and high bandwidth.