Data is transmitted in packets. Each packet has a packet header, and a packet payload. The total data transmitted is the header + payload.
If you’re transmitting smaller packet sizes, it means your header is a larger percentage of the total packet size.
Measuring in megabits is the ISP telling you “look, your connection is good for X amount of data. How you choose to use that data is up to you. If you want more of it going to your packet headers instead of your payload, fine.” A bit is a bit is a bit to your ISP.
Back in the day, the rule was mbit (megabit) for data in transfer (network speed) and MB (megabyte) for data at rest, like on HDDs
but why?
Bigger number sounds better for the ISP.
The real answer?
Data is transmitted in packets. Each packet has a packet header, and a packet payload. The total data transmitted is the header + payload.
If you’re transmitting smaller packet sizes, it means your header is a larger percentage of the total packet size.
Measuring in megabits is the ISP telling you “look, your connection is good for X amount of data. How you choose to use that data is up to you. If you want more of it going to your packet headers instead of your payload, fine.” A bit is a bit is a bit to your ISP.
So mbit/s instead of Mbit/s ? But the M in Mega is always capitalized though, except the k in kilo.