Bandwidth is a term used to refer to the rate at which data is transferred in a given time period. A standard dial-up connection, for example, offers speeds of up to 56 kilobits per second (Kbps). In contrast, higher bandwidth or broadband connections offer speeds of 512Kbps and above. The speed of your Internet connection determines how fast your computer is able to stream, download and upload content from and to the Internet. Internet video content, for example, requires a minimum speed of 512Kbps or higher for it to stream seamlessly.