opinion

How to calculate bandwidth for new projects


You have probably heard this story.

Your site is growing, traffic and sales are up and then it happens. Your host suspends you for too much traffic. No warning just pulls down your site asking you to pay more money.

If you don’t know this by now let me break it to you. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS UNLIMITED HOSTING.

Before you say “but MY host IS unlimited” check their Terms Of Service. Find me a host with true unlimited bandwidth and watch how quickly me and my porn biz buddies bankrupt them ;)

When you plan a project you need to at least look at bandwidth especially when delivering video. Understand how many people have to buy each month before you approach your limits. Move to a dedicated server, BEFORE you hit those limits and wind up with your site offline.

Understand your hosting terminology. Megabits and megabytes are not the same. 1 megabyte = 8 megabits

Megabytes/Gigabytes (aka MB/GB notice the caps) are the numbers we are used to. Your hard drive is measured in gigabytes, 1 GB is 1024 megabytes (just round it to 1000 in a jam). So a 200 GB hard drive has 204,800 megabytes

Megabits/Gigabits are the numbers used to measure the throughput of your network or internet connection. My home network is gigabit (ie: when I move a file to my wife’s computer) but my internet connection is 6 megabits.

So if you have a hosting package that allows for 10/mb sec that means an average of 10 megaBITS per second. To make it simple if you have 1 person hitting your 500 kiloBYTE webpage every second you are doing 4 megabits per second on average.

Some hosts will cap your transfer in terms of total gigaBYTES per month. 1 gigabyte = 1024 megabytes

If your members area has 1 gigabyte of data to download, and your host allows 500 GB of monthly transfer you will want to upgrade before hitting 200 members. Always plan ahead, be proactive not reactive with hosting.

Your ISP usually talks in terms of megabits because:

1. It sounds better to quote bigger numbers
2. That is how network bandwidth is technically measured

To put this into perspective the average cable or DSL connection is 4-6 megabits download and 500 kilobits upload.

I know much of this may be confusing. My best advice is this. If your revenue allows for a dedicated server now. Get one. You may notice increases in overall speed because you are not sharing the resources of a single computer with several other businesses.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

Sophia Locke Talks Second Acts and Self-Love

Sophia Locke has the kind of presence that instantly makes you want to lean in. She’s confident, effortlessly glamorous and exudes sincerity. Chatting with her feels like catching up over lattes with your best friend — who happens to casually drop that she’s filming three Adult Time features next month.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

The Hidden Cost of Letting Retail Define Pleasure Brands

Not long ago, spotting vibrators and lubricants at a national chain like Target or CVS might have raised eyebrows. Now, it’s almost expected.

Rin Musick ·
profile

Reese Rideout Looks Back on a Career Written in Stardust

With his sculpted features and leading-man charisma, Reese Rideout looks like he would be at home in a Marvel blockbuster — or at least a stylish slasher flick where he plays the crafty guy who makes it all the way to the final act.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

WIA Profile: Kelsey Harris

At sister distribution brands Nalpac and Entrenue, one woman is in charge of leading customers in the right direction: Director of Sales Kelsey Harris. Since Michigan-based Nalpac took the reins of Arizona’s Entrenue, Harris has led both sales teams from her home base in Oakland County, Michigan.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

How AI Helps Creators Focus More on Creating

Being a content creator today is about a lot more than just content. It’s about marketing, scheduling, analytics and writing — a lot of writing. Whether it’s sexy captions, subscriber newsletters or the perfect social post, words matter.

Megan Stokes ·
opinion

The Art of Faceless Brand Building

When I first began working as a content creator on streaming platforms, I made a conscious choice to take an unconventional path. I decided I would always keep part of my face off-camera: I don’t show my eyes. Instead, I rely on a smile, a gesture and the overall atmosphere.

Pussylovekate ·
opinion

Rebranding Sexual Wellness Through a Self-Care Approach

As most of us in the industry already know, sexual wellness remains the black sheep of self-care. Discussions about wellness glorify meditation apps, skincare routines and workout regimens — but mention masturbation or using a sex toy, and most people shy away from the topic.

Hail Groo ·
profile

WIA Profile: Leah Koons

If you’ve been to an industry event lately, odds are you’ve heard Leah Koons even before you’ve seen her. As Fansly’s director of marketing, Koons helps steer one of the fastest-growing creator platforms on the web.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

Why Sex Toy Innovation Isn't What Shoppers Want Right Now

During my first year in the industry, the luxury vibrator on shelves was LELO’s Gigi, priced at $109. It was made with high-quality silicone, boasted an ergonomic design, a travel lock and a warranty. Soon after, Je Joue released its first product, SaSi, which employed “rolling ball” movements to simulate oral sex.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
opinion

What France's New Law Means for Age Verification Worldwide

When France implemented its Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law on April 11, it marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing global debate surrounding online safety and access to adult content.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
Show More