How Internet Speed Is Measured

Internet speed is measured in bits by service provider.Since most computer files arrange data in group of eight bits.8 bit=1 bytes.For this reason transfer rate shown when files are downloaded is always in bytes.

• bit per second=bps
• kilobit per second=kbps
• megabit per second=mbps
• byte per second=Bps
• kilobyte per second=kBps
• megabyte per second=mBps

Bit(binary digit)-A bit is the smallest unit of data in computer.A bit has a single binary value either 0 or 1.
Bit rate-It is the rate of bits transmitted usually per second.

• 4 bits called nibble
• 8 bits=1 byte(octet)
• 4 byte=a 32 bit word
• 1000 bits= 1 kilo bit
• 1000 kilobits=1 megabit

Example-
 a 6 kbps internet connection can transfer data at speed of 6000 bits per second (since 1000 bits=1 kilobits)