Units of measurement that are used in the Internet environment

Data volume units

When you use the Internet, you download or send a certain amount of data. If your data plan limits your traffic, it is important to keep track of this data volume to avoid exceeding your plan's limits and incurring additional charges.

The following units are used to measure data volume:

• Byte (B). This is the smallest unit of digital information storage and processing, which in modern computer systems consists of 8 bits.
• Kilobyte (kB). 1 kB is equal to 1,024 B. Used to measure the size of small files such as text documents.
• Megabyte (MB). 1 MB is equivalent to 1,024 kB. Commonly used to measure images, music files, and small videos.
• Gigabyte (GB) 1 GB is equivalent to 1,024 MB. Used to measure the size of large files (such as high-division video) and is a common unit for measuring data that is stored on computers and mobile devices.
• Terabyte (TB). 1 TB is equal to 1,024 GB. It is used to measure large amounts of information in modern computer systems (hard drives and solid state drives, databases, cloud storage).
• Petabyte (PB). 1 PB is equivalent to 1024 TB. Petabytes are used to describe very large amounts of data (such as that stored in cloud storage or large archiving systems).
• Exabyte (ЕБ). 1 EB corresponds to 1024 PB. Exabytes are used to describe and analyse extremely large amounts of information (e.g., those accumulated at the scale of the global Internet or in large scientific and research projects).
• Zettabyte (ZB). 1 ZB is equal to 1024 EB. Zettabytes are used to describe the extremely large amounts of data that occur at the scale of the global information infrastructure.
• Yottabyte (YB). 1 YB is equivalent to 1024 ZB. Currently, yottabytes are more of a theoretical unit, since in real life the amount of information processed has not yet reached such a scale. However, in the future, as technology advances and data volumes grow, yottabytes will become important for describing global information systems and data.

Internet connection speed units

The speed at which you get data from the Internet is called download speed. The higher it is, the faster web pages, videos and other online resources are downloaded. The speed at which you send data to the Internet is called upload speed.

Most commonly, Internet speed is measured in kilobits per second (Kbps), megabits per second (Mbps), or gigabits per second (Gbps):

• Kilobits per second (Kbps). Used mainly to describe the speed of old or slow connections.
• Megabits per second (Mbps). A common unit of measurement for broadband connections during the Fast Ethernet era, when the standard speed for home Internet plans was 100 Mbps.
• Gigabits per second (Gbps). This metric is used to measure fast modern internet connections. Today, Gigabit Ethernet can be considered the most comfortable standard for both business and home users.

Here we should draw your attention not to confuse bytes with bits. This is a common user error, because Internet speed on platforms like Speedtest is measured in Mbps (megabits per second), while the default download speed on uTorrent and Steam is specified in MBps (megabytes per second).

To convert the download speed of content from MB/s to Internet speed in Mbps, you need to multiply the value by 8 because there are 8 bits in a byte. For example, downloading a game at 30 MBps would be 30 MBps x 8 bits = 240 Mbps.

RTT (Round-Trip Time) або ping — is another important metric that measures, in milliseconds (ms), the delay in data transmission between two points on a network. It is actually the time it takes for a data packet sent from one device to reach another device and come back. For example, if the ping shows 20 ms, it means that the data packet and its response take 20 milliseconds to travel between devices.

A low ping indicates that the network connection is fast and efficient. This is important for online gaming, video conferencing, and other real-time applications where latency can affect quality.

A high ping can cause delays in data transmission, which will negatively affect web page loading speeds, video streaming quality, and online gaming interaction.

Other units of measurement

In addition to data volume and Internet speed metrics, there are a few others worth mentioning.

Frequency bands are the frequencies at which your router's wireless network operates. They define the frequencies at which your router transmits and receives Wi-Fi signals and are measured in gigahertz (GHz).

The main frequency bands used in modern routers are:

• 2,4 GHz. This band is the oldest and usually has a longer range. But it is more prone to interference and lower data rates due to the large number of devices and signals operating on this frequency. Usually provides slower data rates compared to 5 GHz, but has better penetration through walls and objects.
• 5 GHz. There is less interference in this frequency range. It provides higher data rates, but has a shorter range and worse penetration through walls and obstacles. Can achieve higher data rates, which is useful for high-division video streaming and online gaming.
• 6 GHz. This is the characteristic found in newer models of Wi-Fi 6E enabled routers. This band has the potential to provide higher data rates and reduced latency. It has the shortest range and the worst penetration through objects. It is most effective for high-speed Wi-Fi, but has the greatest limitations in coverage.

The choice of router frequency range depends on your speed and coverage needs, as well as the environment in which wireless networks are used.

Optical signal strength is a measure of the power of the optical signal that is transmitted through an optical fibre. This parameter is important for evaluating signal quality and data transmission efficiency in optical communication systems.

Optical signal strength is measured in decibel-milliwatts (dBm) by determining the power of the optical signal at the transmitter output or at the receiver input. If the figure is 0 dBm (base unit), this corresponds to 1 mW of power. An optical signal level of -10 dBm equals 0.1 mW, +10 dBm equals 10 mW.

Because optical power is small, some of the switch manufacturers use microwatts (µW) in their performance descriptions, where 1 mW equals 1000 µW.

The power of optical signals directly determines whether network connections are able to function properly. If the received signal power is not high enough, there will be no signals in the optical links. This is why a special SFP module or optical amplifier is needed to transmit signals over long distances to ensure uninterrupted connectivity.

Uptime in the context of IT infrastructure and networks is an indicator that shows the percentage of time a system (service, equipment, etc.) is up and available to users without interruption or failure, relative to the total time it should be up and running.

Formula for calculation:

Availability (%) = [Uptime/(Uptime+Downtime)]×100

For example, if the system was available for 30 days out of 31 days in a month, i.e., 24 hours per day, availability is calculated as follows:

• Uptime: 30 days × 24 hours = 720 hours
• Idle time: 1 day × 24 hours = 24 hours
• Total time: 720 hours + 24 hours = 744 hours

Uptime = (720/744)×100 ≈ 96,8%

The following availability levels are distinguished:

• 99.9% (three nines) — allows up to 8.76 hours of downtime per year;
• 99.99% (four nines) — allows up to 52.56 minutes of downtime per year;
• 99.999% (five nines) — allows up to 5.26 minutes of downtime per year;
• 99.9999% (six nines) — allows up to 31.5 seconds of downtime per year.

Availability levels are widely used in SLA contracts that are often negotiated in business. In general, availability is a critical metric for any system or service that requires stable operation and minimal interruptions to ensure uninterrupted operations and user satisfaction.

How to manage your data and Internet connection

To effectively manage your data and Internet connection, the following advice can be given:

1. Monitor your data usage. Use apps or your router settings to monitor your data consumption.
2. Assess your needs. Choose a data plan that meets your needs for speed and data volume. For example, you'll need faster speeds and more data for streaming high quality videos or a large volume of downloads. We've talked about how to check your Internet speed before.
3. Upgrade your hardware. Old routers or modems can limit Internet speeds. Make sure your equipment is up to current standards.

Understanding Internet metrics and the associated basic concepts is important for web users. Hopefully, this knowledge will help you ensure optimal speeds for your online activities and avoid potential trouble.