Mbps stands for megabits per second, and it’s a measurement of how fast data can be transferred over the internet. Here’s what you need to know:

1. What is a Megabit?

A bit is the smallest unit of data in computing. A megabit is 1 million bits. This is different from a megabyte (MB), which equals 8 megabits. So, when your internet speed is listed as 100 Mbps, that means it can transfer 100 million bits per second—or 12.5 megabytes per second.

2. Download vs. Upload Speeds

Download speed: How fast you can receive data (e.g., streaming, downloading files).

Upload speed: How fast you can send data (e.g., video calls, uploading to cloud).

3. Why Mbps Matters

Streaming HD video: Needs ~5 Mbps per stream

Streaming 4K video: Needs ~25 Mbps per stream

Online gaming: Needs low latency more than high Mbps, but ~3–6 Mbps is sufficient

Video conferencing: Needs ~1–6 Mbps depending on quality

4. Shared Bandwidth

Your total Mbps is shared across all devices using your internet at once. So if you have a 100 Mbps connection and 5 people are streaming HD videos, your speed may slow down unless you have enough bandwidth.