Ken Rutkowski’s recent world broadband VodCast was a timely reminder of just how much confusion is generated by the use of the term bandwidth and what is expected — throughput.
- Throughput
- is the actual speed data will transfer at from one point on the network to another. The actual speed, throughput, of a network is very often much less than the stated Bandwidth. The hardware used to communicate, heavy/light traffic, etc…can effect throughput.
- Bandwidth
- is more often quoted than Throughput since it is easier to calculate and not subject to changes in many variables.
The important thing to note about throughput, which is what customers actually measure, is that it is defined between two points of the network. The choice of which points is very important.
The Hon Senator Stephen Conroy has stated publicly and within the current NGN RFP that the goal is at least a 12Mbps network that can support high definition video conferencing. There is mention of contention ratios, which coupled with a knowledge of the network architecture can be used to determine a likely throughput, but there is no quantified statement given for them or for a throughput figure.
The implications of the inclusion of high definition video conferencing in the stated application suite that the new network should support should hopefully bring about a network for Australia that approaches the capabilities Ken mentioned in his VodCast. One where the Bandwidth and Throughput are near equal.
Lets hope the respondents rise to the challenge, the reviewers take this into consideration, and that Australia catches up for all our sakes.
For a written version of the detail of the VodCast see World Broadband Speeds
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