Is the network slow because of insufficient bandwidth? 5 tips to optimize network bandwidth

Long ago, internet signals were transmitted over the same infrastructure as landline telephones.

The dark days of dial-up paved the way for broadband, a high-capacity transmission technology that uses multiple frequencies to transmit large amounts of data simultaneously.

Today, most network data travels over optical fibers, tiny tubes thinner than a human hair that carry light. Metal wires are sometimes still used, even though they require more maintenance and are susceptible to signal loss and electromagnetic interference.

Optical fiber is currently one of the best transmission options for bandwidth because each fiber can carry several different wavelengths of light at the same time, thanks to a process called wavelength division multiplexing (WDM).

Most cables contain at least four optical fibers, which greatly increases the data traffic possible. To achieve the same bandwidth capacity, thousands of copper wires would be required, so all the undersea and transcontinental journeys are made via fiber optic lines.

optical fiber

Millions of fiber optic connections form the backbone, or core data path, of the Internet, capable of carrying hundreds of terabits of data per second. However, bandwidth at the edge of the Internet is limited by deployment technology and local router performance.

Many network managers have the seemingly impossible task of providing an optimal end-user experience while limiting operational costs.

Regardless of how much you spend on Internet bandwidth, here are some tips to help you make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Check out these five tips for optimizing Internet bandwidth:

1. Understand the difference between bandwidth and throughput

These two terms can also be used interchangeably, but they have different meanings.

Bandwidth refers to the size of the communication channel, while throughput is the capacity of the processing system to send and receive data. Therefore, your hardware may not be able to utilize your maximum bandwidth.

2. Measure your performance tradeoffs

Poor performance isn't always caused by insufficient network bandwidth. Tracking how busy your links are can help you better understand the relationship between bandwidth and performance.

For example, underutilized links may draw bandwidth away from overutilized links. It may be better to sacrifice one feature to improve the performance of another.

3. Choose the right monitoring tool

When it comes to over-utilizing network bandwidth, there are many website monitoring tools that can help you understand exactly how your resources are allocated. Analyzing long-term trends is not always helpful, as they can mask utilization spikes.

Likewise, just looking at the peak will only tell you which link is the busiest. Good monitoring software can give you a complete picture to guide your optimization efforts.

4. Ensure bandwidth is used for business purposes

If you have a large team all working on the same network, an employee running Netflix on their desktop could slow down everything for everyone, including the end users. Internet access at work is common in the workplace these days, but try to limit it if you use it for fun while on a company network.

If a business application is causing a lot of congestion, ask your IT team to determine if it can be optimized or if it should be removed from the network.

5. Use proactive capacity planning

Even with the right monitoring software, tracking link activity can become more time-consuming as your network grows in complexity. Still, you should always take the time to do capacity planning.

Don't worry about links that get little attention, prioritize the busiest links. Set up custom alerts to let you know when bandwidth exceeds 80% for 3 consecutive minutes, and prepare a reaction plan. Otherwise, you may receive a 509 bandwidth limit exceeded error message from your hosting provider.