Gigabit Broadband: What’s the Difference between Bits and Bytes?

What are the differences between bits and bytes in relation to fibre broadband?

If you’re looking for fast and reliable internet, you might have come across the term ‘gigabit broadband’. But what does it mean and how does it compare to other types of broadband? To answer that, you’ll need to understand the difference between bits and bytes, two units of measurement often used to describe digital data. So, here goes:

A bit is the smallest unit of digital information. It can have only one of two values: 0 or 1.

A byte, on the other hand, is a group of eight bits that can represent a single character, such as a letter, a number, or a symbol. For example, the letter A is represented by the byte 01000001 in binary code.

So, 1 byte = 8 bits. Easy.

It’s useful to know because data transfer rates (essentially how quick your internet is) are usually expressed in bits per second (bps). That’s because data is transmitted in bits over a network, not in bytes. For example, if you download a file that’s 1 megabyte (MB) in size, it means that you’re downloading 8 megabits (Mb) of data.

To put it another way, if you’re downloading a 50MB (megabyte) file on a 50Mbps (Megabits per second) internet connection, it’ll take 8 seconds to download because a megabyte is eight times bigger than a megabit.

Still with us? Great.

So, to convert between bits and bytes, you simply need to multiply or divide by eight. 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 megabit = 0.125 megabytes, and so on. To save you bringing up your calculator, here are some prefixes you might have seen around (including Gigabit) with the number of bits they equate to:

• kilo (k) = 1,000

• mega (M) = 1,000,000

• giga (G) = 1,000,000,000

• tera (T) = 1,000,000,000,000

How it affects you

If you’re looking for a great broadband deal, it’s so easy to get bamboozled by bits, bytes, and everything else. So having a basic understanding of what the difference is should at least help you know what you’re comparing. Also handy for the pub quiz!

What is gigabit broadband and how fast is it?

Now we’ve covered bits vs bytes, let’s get to grips with gigabit broadband. As you might have guessed, gigabit broadband is fast. Really fast. Delivering speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps), you could download a 1GB file in about 8 seconds. For context, an HD movie is around 4GB.

Gigabit broadband is way quicker than traditional broadband packages, and as more and more of our everyday devices rely on a reliable internet connection, it’s a great choice for data-hungry households.

To enjoy gigabit broadband, you’ll need a full fibre connection (where fibre optic cables deliver data straight into your home, avoiding the need for traditional copper cabling). You’ll need to have a gigabit-capable network in your area too – check if gigabit full fibre broadband from Hey!Broadband is in your area.

Although not present everywhere in the UK yet, availability is expected to increase rapidly as more providers roll out their fibre optic networks across the country. So even if it isn’t in your area yet, it’s worth keeping an eye out.

If you work from home, you’ll get rapid speeds with buffer-free video conferencing. For gamers, it’s a no-lag guarantee. And for families, it’ll handle multiple devices at once without compromising on speed or quality.

With the increased roll out of full fibre throughout the UK, Gigabit broadband is becoming more and more affordable which is why we’re able to offer superfast broadband at competitive prices - and without hiking the prices during the contract term! At Hey!Broadband we believe full fibre offers the best home and business internet thanks to its reliability and guaranteed speeds.

Of course, it all comes down to your personal needs and preferences, as well as your budget and availability. If you’re willing to shop around, going for a gigabit broadband plan could be a great option. Especially if you have a family using many different devices or work from home.

In summary

Bits and bytes aren’t all that complicated. And knowing the difference is useful when searching for the best fibre broadband deals, chatting with customer services, or if you’re locked in a game of trivial pursuit.

As for gigabit broadband… if you’re looking for a fast and reliable internet connection, gigabit broadband is it. With gigabit full fibre, households can browse, stream, work, and game all at once without any drop-outs or hold-ups.

If you’re interested in learning more, please call our friendly and helpful customer services on 0808 168 1616 or drop us an email at [email protected].