Narrow-bandwidth

Narrow-bandwidth refers to a communication channel or data transmission system with a limited capacity to transmit data. This limitation constrains the amount of information that can be transferred simultaneously, impacting the speed and efficiency of data transfer. Systems employing narrow bandwidth often experience slower loading times, reduced image quality in video streaming, and potential for lag or delays in real-time applications. The term is widely used in telecommunications, networking, and digital signal processing, often highlighting the need for efficient data compression and optimization to make the best use of the available bandwidth.

Narrow-bandwidth meaning with examples

• Rural internet connections often suffer from narrow-bandwidth, leading to frustratingly slow download and upload speeds. This makes streaming videos and participating in video calls a significant challenge, highlighting the digital divide.
• Early dial-up internet connections were characterized by their narrow-bandwidth capabilities. This severely limited the types of websites and content that could be efficiently accessed, forcing websites to be simple.
• In a radio communication system, narrow-bandwidth signals allow a single frequency to be shared by many users, however each channel struggles to contain high fidelity audio or video.
• Streaming high-definition video over a narrow-bandwidth network results in frequent buffering and pixelated images. This degrades the viewing experience and can make content unwatchable.
• When designing embedded systems for IoT devices, engineers must account for the narrow-bandwidth of common wireless communication protocols like LoRa, ensuring that data transmission remains efficient.