Bandwidth management

Internet speed is a limited resource, yet consumer demand for bandwidth shows no signs of slowing.

Content streaming continues its explosion in popularity and according to one survey, 75% of hotel guests now wish to access Netflix when travelling.[1]

Sufficient bandwidth is therefore necessary to serve the content users desire. To do this effectively, a network needs to manage its bandwidth distribution.

We look at the ways bandwidth can best be distributed around such facilities as hotels, care homes or schools, ensuring end users are satisfied and resources are used in the most efficient and effective way possible.

What is bandwidth management?

In general terms, bandwidth management is the manual or automatic process by which the available bandwidth (and thus the connection speed to the internet) is distributed amongst devices connected to a given network.

Why is bandwidth management important?

To any establishment, internet speed is always limited. Whether it’s the fastest fibre to an inner-city hotel, or shaky ADSL to a woodland campsite, there’s always a finite capacity.

That capacity has to be shared, with anybody connected to the network who needs it at any time.

But, especially in scenarios where the internet connection is slower, a few users can quickly consume all the bandwidth available.

This will result in a poor customer experience for those who don’t receive their fair share of the connection.

So, to ensure an optimal experience for all users, a form of bandwidth management is necessary.

How can bandwidth be managed?

Bandwidth can be managed using one of two methods: the dynamic or the static/classic approach.

Static bandwidth management is a limiting approach. A bandwidth limit is set for each endpoint or group of endpoints.

Dynamic bandwidth management is an automatic allocation approach. Bandwidth is allocated dynamically to each endpoint, depending upon usage requirements at any given moment. By guaranteeing a minimum bandwidth across the network, it also ensures no single endpoint can take up all the capacity.

Here’s an overview comparing the different approaches:

	Dynamic	Static / Classic
Distribution method	Allocation Real-time dynamic adjustment per endpoint, based on demand across network.	Limitation Maximum speed is defined at each endpoint.
Benefits	– Internet connection shared most fairly amongst all users. – Improved overall user experience: all users receive bandwidth most proportionate to their needs. – Entire bandwidth capacity used. – Reduced likelihood of internet-related complaints.	– Complete manual control over all endpoints. – Upselling possible by introducing a paid tier of additional bandwidth.
Drawbacks	– Most useful when only offering one tier of internet access to users.	– Much available bandwidth could be unused.

What does TRIAX EoC offer?

TRIAX Ethernet over Coax (EoC) creates an enterprise-grade gigaspeed IP network over the existing coax cables in a building or group of buildings. By re-using TV cables already in place, installation costs are significantly reduced, and it’s good for the planet too.

For ultimate flexibility, TRIAX EoC offers both Dynamic and Static/Classic methods of bandwidth management.

This gives an administrator complete control – the dynamic method to automatically make the best use of the available bandwidth, or the static/classic approach, which is useful in especially hospitality situations where up-selling is important.

Read on for some scenarios where Dynamic Bandwidth Management is an advantageous approach.

Case examples of how TRIAX EoC Dynamic Bandwidth Management (DBM) will optimise user experience

Conference hotel

At a classic conference hotel the demand for internet connection comes from different areas of the hotel, all depending on the time of day. During the evenings the main demand for a good and fast internet connection will be in the individual hotel rooms where guests are watching IPTV, streaming movies, working on e-mails and so on. During the day, it will most likely be in the conference area where people are gathered.

If your bandwidth management is a classic limitation approach, you will have a lot of unused and unavailable capacity allocated to the endpoints in the hotel rooms in a situation where there is high demand in the conference area. With the Dynamic Bandwidth Management of the EoC system, the capacity not used in the rooms is made available in the conference area giving the guests a much better internet experience. And of course vice-versa during the evenings.

School / university

A similar situation could be described at a school or a university. There the major demand for throughput will be in the classrooms or lecture halls during lectures and in the common areas during intervals and lunch. In this situation EoC DBM will also ensure the bandwidth is dynamically allocated to the areas of most need without compromising the minimum availability at other endpoints.

Difference in hotel guest profiles

At a hotel you will quite often have a variety of guest profiles. Some are more digital than others. With the TRIAX EoC DBM you don’t have to limit the guests who have a high demand for throughput, because you limit all your endpoints to the same capacity. With EoC you ensure that every endpoint has equal capacity, but any capacity not used at one endpoint can be dynamically distributed to others and hence improve their user experience.

 

[1] Hospitality Wi-Fi Survey of Guests & Hoteliers, Hotel Internet Services, 2019