Bandwidth on Demand


Bandwidth On Demand is any telecommunications technology that provides the capability of quickly increasing bandwidth when needed by users.

What is bandwidth on Demand?

Any telecommunications technology that provides both a permanent, dedicated connection and the capability of quickly increasing bandwidth when needed by users.

Many telecommunications devices incorporate bandwidth-on-demand features of various types. For example, some Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) devices used for Basic Rate Interface ISDN (BRI-ISDN) can be configured to use the second ISDN B channel only when the utilization of the first channel exceeds a certain threshold. If this threshold is exceeded for a specified period of time, the second B channel automatically opens up to facilitate and speed data transfer.

Bandwidth on Demand vs Static Networks
Bandwidth on Demand vs Static Networks

Once the data rate has dropped below the threshold, the second B channel shuts down until it is needed again. The ISDN technology for accomplishing this combining of channels is called bonding. Many Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) products also support various bandwidth-on-demand features.

Bandwidth-on-demand technologies are typically used in bursty networking situations in which high transmission speeds and capacities are required for transporting video, voice, and data on common networking circuits. Bandwidth-on-demand configurations often involve a mix of leased-line services and circuit-switched telecommunications services, and they can save users money by opening additional circuits only on an as-needed basis. Networks that make use of bandwidth on demand can be designed to supply additional bandwidth under conditions such as:

  • Exceeding a specified threshold of network traffic
  • Scheduling for expected peak periods of the day
  • Failover in case the permanent link goes down

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