When you do a speed test, you see two numbers in the results: one is your upload speed and the other is your download speed. The results will be your plan speed in Mbps, but the speed while actual downloading the data from the internet will be lesser than the speed test result and it will be measured in MBps. It doesn’t mean that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is providing you less speed.
Understanding Mbps and MBps
The main difference between the two terms comes down to bits vs. bytes. The first acronym, Mbps with a lowercase “b,” refers to megabits per second, while the second, MBps with a capital “B,” stands for megabytes per second.
When your internet plan advertises speed as “100 Mbps”, “300 Mbps”, etc., the “Mbps” stands for megabits per second. In contrast, “MBps” (capital “B”) stands for megabytes per second, the unit your device often shows when downloading files.
Crucially, 1 byte = 8 bits. That means whenever you see “MBps” (bytes), you must multiply by 8 to convert back to “Mbps” (bits). This is why the Internet-plan speed (in Mbps) appears higher than the download speed you see (in MBps).
Both terms are related to measurements, but they are used differently. Megabits per second is commonly used when talking about internet upload and download speeds, or the rate at which information is uploaded or downloaded based on your connection speed. Megabytes per second is referenced when talking about file size or the amount of data transferred. You might see MBps shortened to just MB, such as a 500 MB video clip. MB can also be used when talking about internet data limit or mobile data allowances.
Real Example: Mbps Plan vs MBps Download Speed
The actual speed will always be the 8th part of the plan speed. For example, if you have a plan of 100 Mbps, the actual download speed you will get is approximately 12.5 MBps. The reason for this will be the same: difference in bits and bytes. 8 bits make 1 byte. So, the plan speed is on Megabits and the actual speed will be on Megabytes.
| Plan Speed (Megabits/sec) | Approx. Download Speed (Megabytes/sec) |
| 50 Mbps | ~ 6 MBps |
| 100 Mbps | ~ 12.5 MBps |
| 300 Mbps | ~ 37 MBps |
How Excitel Broadband Delivers Consistent Speeds
Excitel uses fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology, offering symmetric upload and download speeds on many of its plans for robust, high-speed connectivity.
If you run a speed test on Excitel’s official speed-test tool, you’ll typically see the result in Mbps, representing the rate at which data travels over the network. When you download a file, your device may show speed in MBps; divide the Mbps result by 8 to anticipate roughly how fast the download should be. This helps you understand whether your connection is performing as expected or if there’s a discrepancy due to network or device limitations.
FAQs
Does Excitel Broadband support high download speeds?
Yes. Excitel offers plans up to 400 Mbps, ensuring fast and stable internet suitable for streaming, gaming or heavy downloading.
Why is my download speed lower than my internet plan speed?
Because the plan speed is in megabits (Mbps) while downloads show megabytes (MBps). One byte = 8 bits, so download speed appears roughly eight times lower.How much download speed should I get on a 100 Mbps plan?
Expect around 12.5 MBps download speed under ideal conditions (100 ÷ 8 ≈ 12.5).
Is my ISP giving me less speed?
Not necessarily, what your device shows (MBps) is lower due to unit conversion (bits vs bytes). Unless there’s a significant drop from expected speed, the plan may still be delivering as promised.
What is Mbps and MBps used for?
Mbps measures the bandwidth or network capacity (internet speed), while MBps indicates the actual data transfer rate when downloading or uploading files.
