Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Megabits per second (Mbps) is a unit of measurement used to quantify the speed of data transmission in a network. It represents the number of million bits that can be transmitted in one second.
Related terms
Kilobit: A kilobit (Kb) is equal to 1,000 bits. It is commonly used to measure smaller amounts of data or lower transmission speeds.
Gigabit: A gigabit (Gb) is equal to 1 billion bits. It represents higher transmission speeds and larger amounts of data compared to megabits.
Download Speed: Download speed refers to the rate at which data can be received from the internet onto your device. It determines how quickly you can access and retrieve files or content online.