Latency vs. throughput

The world of data transfer is filled with various terminologies, which can be confusing for many. If you are able to correctly decipher your network performance, you should enjoy uninterrupted internet access. Two terms you will not miss when purchasing a router are latency and throughput.

Latency refers to the amount of time it takes for a packet of data to move from the source to the destination (mostly a server) and back. Throughput is the amount of data you send and receive over this round trip.

The unit of measurement for latency is milliseconds while for throughput it is kbps/Mbps/Gbps.

The relationship between latency, throughput, and bandwidth

Latency, bandwidth and throughput all affect each other is some way. Bandwidth refers to the capacity a communication link can handle over a prescribed period. Think of bandwidth as a river, the width of a river determines its capacity to hold water. The wider it is the more the supply. The unit of measurement for bandwidth is Mbps or Gbps.

Latency determines how long it takes for data to move from one destination to another and back. The longer it takes the more lag you experience over your network. Throughput is the actual data you send and receive over the network. Throughput is not similar to bandwidth as it is affected by issues like packet loss, latency, jitter among others.

Most ISPs companies spend a lot of time advertising their bandwidths. This is often misrepresented as the advertised bandwidth may turn out to be problematic for high response games and live streams due to latency issues. It is recommended that once you purchase your router you subject it to a speed test to determine the actual throughput and latency rates.

How does network latency affect router performance?

Whenever, you place a command on your computer over the internet, it will have to move to allocated servers then information is sent back. If there is a delay in receiving a response we say you are experiencing high latency. The cause and effect of bandwidth is that if you have less bandwidth it means your data takes longer to get to its destination hence high latency. Think of bandwidth as the width of a pipe, it is easier to send data when the pipe is wider as you have less congestion. If you have a wider pipe then you are capable of sending more packets of data.

If you want to accurately know your network performance the right metric to use is the throughput rate. This is because the metric measures how many packets of data are been sent and received successfully. A low throughput rate means most of your messages are not been successfully delivered. Having a low throughput rate can be frustrating especially when you are using VOIP. In this instance, you will have increased instances of audio skips and poor quality audio/video calls.

One of the lead causes for low throughput is poor hardware infrastructure. If your router is old or operating on outdated firmware then you are going to experience loss of packet data and your messages will not reach their destination safely. Alternatively, you can experience low throughput rates if you are using a congested network. Instances of loss packet data are higher in these scenarios.

Measures to take to boost your throughput rate

Update router firmware

Since almost everyone is using some form of Wi-Fi network the risks of attacks have also been on the rise. Hackers are becoming more audacious and aggressive in their attacks meaning your private network isn’t safe anymore. To reduce the number of malware attacks on your private/public network keep your firmware up to date with the latest anti-virus solutions. The theft of bandwidth can lead to a rise in your throughput rate. Old firmware is more susceptible to attacks than newer one.

Strategically place your router for the best signal

The distance of your device to your router can lead to a significant increase in the throughput rate. Ensure that the place you place your router is free from any metallic objects and electro-magnetic devices like microwaves. Cardboards, glass, and wood are also known to cause obstruction of your Wi-Fi signal hence creating deadzones.

Quality of service

To boost your network performance most routers come with a feature called Quality of Service (QoS). This feature enables one to give priority to certain applications at the expense of others. For example, you may have a QoS feature that categorizes devices into Platinum, Gold, Bronze, and Silver. The Platinum applications are at the higher end of the food chain when it comes to bandwidth allocation (can be as much as 50%).

Compression

Since it is inevitable that you are going to have bandwidth challenges the best step is to implement compression algorithms. With the system in place you are capable of predicting the rise of large data streams weeks before they happen. Compression is aided by TCP control rates and caching. With compression measures in place you can boost your throughput rates fourfold.

Explaining latency, throughput and bandwidth

Conclusion

A complex interrelationship exists between latency, throughput and bandwidth. When purchasing a router many people will focus on bandwidth. In fact, this is what most ISPs advertise. However, you can have an internet connection with high bandwidth and a resulting high latency. High latency is not good as it creates some sort of delay between when you type a command on your computer or gaming console and when you see the actual results. There are some simple things you can do to reduce your high latency like using wired connection instead of wireless and using fiber cables instead of satellite. Since the throughput rate and latency are not provided during purchase of a router, you will need to do a speed test to uncover these metrics.

FAQ

Does latency affect throughput?

High latency will lead to an increase in the TCP congestion window meaning more packets remain idle during sending.

Is a latency of 20ms good?

If you are getting latency of 20ms and below then this is considered exceptional