One of the seemingly simple questions, for which there is no definitive answer, is the following: “What is the maximum speed of digital data exchange between two computing systems?”
For example, it is known that, as part of the experiment, Japanese technicians transferred data between computers at speeds of more than two terabytes per second (20 terabits in 2012). However, the cost of implementing such a solution is too high, which does not allow making mass technology. Such a high result remains the destiny of specialized computing systems and prototypes of network equipment. Ordinary computer owners are more interested in the question of what is the maximum Internet speed offered by a particular provider.
Necessity
The volume of modern software packages and multimedia files is increasing at an incredible speed. For example, if the distribution of the well-known operating system Windows XP was placed on a standard 700 MB compact disc, then subsequent versions require a DVD (partially or fully). Obviously, to reduce the time spent on data transfer, the maximum network speed should be increased. Otherwise, work with many network resources can turn into a continuous wait for the completion of the transfer process.
Maximum ADSL Speed
One technology that is still actively used by some users is ADSL. It represents the development of a modem type of connection. The existing telephone lines are used. The PBX provider installs a special device - DSLAM. The subscriber, for his part, connects the corresponding modem to the computer. DSLAM is an intermediate link between the PBX equipment and the subscriber. Compared with specialized cable solutions, the advantage is that if you have a landline telephone and an appropriate provider, then Internet connection can be made as soon as possible.
The maximum speed of such a decision depends on the characteristics of the line, tariff plan and equipment capabilities. So, for the ADSL ITU G.992.1 Annex A (B) standard, the “ceiling” of the download speed is 12 Mbit, and the return is 1.3 Mbit (the channel is always asynchronous). But in the advanced ADSL2 + solution (ITU G.992.5 Annex M mode), the speed increased to 24 / 3.5 Mbit, respectively. Most home users can target 8/1 Mbps at best.
Wired Analog
Currently, solutions based on twisted pair and optical communication lines are more popular. In the first case, data is transmitted through copper cable conductors at speeds of up to 100 Mbit. Gigabit speeds are rarely provided to ordinary users, since there is a limitation on the length of the cable section from the switchgear to the subscriber's computer. Much more technological lines, created on the basis of optical lines, allow transmitting at least 10 Gbps of data through the fiber, and if we take into account the possibility of multiplexing the number of channels in one fiber, the total transfer rate can be measured in terabits. When connected to fiber networks, the user is usually provided with from 100 megabits to 1 gigabyte.
Wireless lines
Thanks to the proliferation of portable communication devices, the question of what is the maximum Wi-Fi speed has become of particular interest to many. Currently, it is up to 140 Mbit (even for 802.11n devices with the claimed 300 Mbit / s). A huge impact on the speed capabilities of wireless communication lines is provided by obstacles between the devices (walls, etc.).