Understanding Bandwidth and Data Transfer

The amount of data transfer available with a budget hosting plan is important, so understanding some basics about bandwidth and data transfer can help you choose the web host and plan that's best for you.

While bandwidth and data transfer are somewhat synonymous, the two are typically referred to from unique perspectives. In a nutshell - both have to do with the amount of data that is transferred to and from your web site either by you uploading files, your visitors viewing pages and downloading files, and your emails if you are using your host for your email service. If someone comes to your web site and downloads a 1MB file, you've just transferred 1MB of data. If 1,000 people download that file than you have transferred 1,000MB or 1GB.

The Difference Between Bandwidth and Data Transfer

In nearly all cases, budget web hosting plans are looked at in terms of data transfer and not bandwidth. Why? Think of an internet connection as a water hose and the data (site traffic) as water. Bandwidth refers more to the size of that hose in addition to the amount of water flowing through it. Often you will see hosts offering "unlimited data transfer" compared to say the MySiteSpace Pro plan which offers 6GB (6,000MB) transfer per month. Most likely the one offering you unlimited data transfer (back to the water analogy) is only letting you drink from a very small hose. This means you can drink and drink all you want but chances are you could not get enough water through the small hose to amount to much.

In the web hosting industry, bandwidth is a real and significant cost. There are no unlimited plans out there. A host that offers a really generous data transfer plan is bound to have one if not both of the following, 1. a small and limiting connection to the internet or 2. lots of sites using up lots of the available bandwidth. Either results in a slow loading web site.

How Much Data Transfer Do You Need?

Would you believe that of the thousands of MySiteSpace users less than 1% ever exceed their allowed data transfer in a given month? (Our Pro plan offers 6GB and our Enterprise offers 20GB). Unless your site offers things like MP3 or Video downloads or receives thousands of visitors per month chances are data transfer will never even be an issue.

Many hosts, such as MySiteSpace offer added features to our web hosting service such as email, web site statistics, backup and restore functions, pre-installed scripts and more. Today there are over 15,000 web host providers offering everything from affordable budget services to high end managed services. Being a leader in budget hosting means offering a comprehensive and reliable plan at a great price.

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