In telecommunications, what does the term "bandwidth" refer to?

Bandwidth refers to the range of frequencies that can be used for communication in a telecommunications system. Specifically, it is the difference between the highest and lowest frequencies of a signal. This range determines how much data can be transmitted over a given medium in a certain amount of time. The wider the bandwidth, the more data can be carried simultaneously, leading to faster data transmission rates.

Understanding bandwidth is crucial because it directly impacts the efficiency and performance of communication systems, including internet speed, video streaming quality, and overall network capacity. While other factors such as signal strength and transmission distance are important for communication quality, they do not define the term "bandwidth" within the context of telecommunications.