I. Data transmission rate refers to the amount of data transmitted through a transmission medium per unit of time. It is the core metric for measuring the speed of data transmission and is the core indicator of data transmission efficiency.

1. Core Units (Commonly Used from Low to High)

bps (bits per second): The most basic unit, 1 bps = 1 binary bit (0 or 1) transmitted per second;
Kbps (kilobits per second): 1 Kbps = 1024 bps (approximately 1000 bps);
Mbps (megabits per second): 1 Mbps = 1024 Kbps (commonly referred to as "100 Mbps broadband" or "gigabit broadband");
Gbps (gigabits per second): 1 Gbps = 1024 Mbps (commonly used in 5G and fiber optic broadband);
Tbps (terabits per second): 1 Tbps = 1024 Gbps (backbone networks, ultra-high-speed transmission scenarios).

2. Key Points to Note

Distinguish between "bits (b)" and "bytes (B)": The download speed displayed is in bytes (e.g., 1MB/s). 1 byte = 8 bits, so the theoretical download speed of 100Mbps broadband is approximately 12.5MB/s. Actual speed < theoretical speed: This is affected by the transmission medium (e.g., old network cables), equipment performance, network congestion, and protocol loss (e.g., gigabit broadband actual download speed is usually 80-110MB/s).

II. The core of improving data transmission speed is optimizing the "channel (medium), device, network environment, and transmission rules." Practical methods are provided according to different scenarios, making them simple and easy to implement:

1. Prioritize Superior Transmission Media (Most Direct)

Wired Scenarios: Use gigabit/10-gigabit Ethernet cables (Category 5e or higher) or fiber optic cables instead of ordinary Ethernet cables. Avoid using excessively long cables (recommended ≤100 meters).

Wireless Scenarios: Connect to 5G Wi-Fi (5GHz band) instead of 2.4GHz (fewer people, less interference). Keep devices as close to the router as possible, minimizing wall obstructions.

2. Optimize Device and Connection Settings

Ensure devices support high-speed protocols: For example, network cards and routers should support gigabit/2.5Gbps speeds. Use BLE 5.0+ for Bluetooth (file transfer) and USB 3.2 Gen2 (external devices).

Close bandwidth-intensive background processes: Pause automatic device updates, cloud synchronization, and background video playback to reduce bandwidth consumption.

3. Improve Network Environment (Reduce Interference and Congestion)

Place the router in a central location, away from microwave ovens and Bluetooth devices (to avoid signal interference); restart the router regularly (to clear the cache); when multiple people share the network, use QoS to prioritize bandwidth allocation for important transmissions (such as office documents), avoiding downloads and live streaming consuming all resources.

4. Adjust Transmission Rules and the Data Itself

Use high-speed transmission protocols: for example, choose FTP or SFTP instead of Bluetooth for file transfers, use UDP optimized protocols for video calls, and use "instant transfer" for cloud storage (avoiding duplicate transfers of the same files); compress data size: compress large files using ZIP or 7Z before transferring, and transcode videos to H.265 (smaller file size without affecting image quality), reducing the amount of data to be transmitted.