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When we are surfing the Internet, the data packets in our PC need to travel to the intended website through that extensive network matrix we call the Internet. However, the advertised speeds on the various plans (e.g. 512 kbps,
12 Mbps) refer only to the "last mile" or more accurately the capacity of your line from your home to the nearest aggregating centre.
What the published bandwidth does not tell is your actual rate of data transfer from your PC to the intended website, or what is known as the throughput.
Throughput refers to the amount of data that is successfully transferred from one point of the network to another over a specified period of time. It is usually expressed as kilobits or megabits per second (kbps or Mbps).
Throughput is an important indicator of network performance, especially when it involves large file transfers or high-bandwidth applications. It will determine the time needed for the file transfer or the number of high-bandwidth applications such as video streaming that can be supported.
When we are downloading a file, the little box that pops up with the speed of your download is actually showing your throughput. And that is the number that really counts for consumers.
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