Frame Relay services provided high-speed data throughput over digital networks, offering a range of speeds tailored to various business needs.
Understanding Frame Relay Speed
Based on the provided information, Frame Relay speeds ranged from 56 Kbps up to 44.736 Mbps. It was designed to offer faster and more efficient data communication compared to older technologies like X.25. Frame Relay achieved these speeds by simplifying protocols and relying on the network's digital facilities to handle error correction at the endpoints rather than within the network itself.
Typical Frame Relay Throughput Speeds
The service offered flexibility by providing various speed options. Here are the specific speeds mentioned:
- 56 Kbps
- 128 Kbps
- 256 Kbps
- 384 Kbps
- 512 Kbps
- 768 Kbps
- 1.536 Mbps
- 4 Mbps
- 6 Mbps
- 10 Mbps
- 22 Mbps
- 44.736 Mbps
These speeds allowed businesses to select a bandwidth that matched their application requirements, from connecting small branch offices to linking larger corporate sites requiring higher throughput for applications like file transfer or even early forms of voice and video over IP.
Speed Options in a Table
To provide a clearer overview, the speeds can be listed in a table format:
| Speed Option | Unit |
|---|---|
| 56 | Kbps |
| 128 | Kbps |
| 256 | Kbps |
| 384 | Kbps |
| 512 | Kbps |
| 768 | Kbps |
| 1.536 | Mbps |
| 4 | Mbps |
| 6 | Mbps |
| 10 | Mbps |
| 22 | Mbps |
| 44.736 | Mbps |
Note: Kbps stands for kilobits per second, and Mbps stands for megabits per second. 1 Mbps is equal to 1000 Kbps.
These speeds represent the potential throughput achievable over the digital circuits utilized by the Frame Relay network. The specific speed a customer received depended on the subscribed service level, often defined by a Committed Information Rate (CIR) and an Excess Information Rate (EIR).
