There is no such thing called unlimited bandwidth. When you come across a host claiming to offer Unlimited Bandwidth, you will definitely want to find out what their meaning of unlimited really is. No host can really offer true unlimited bandwidth.
Web Hosting is a business. The key factors of any web hosting plan are disk space and bandwidth or web traffic. Disk space is the space you are allotted on the web server to store your website files. Bandwidth is an amount you are allowed to transfer web pages from the hosting server to the visitor’s computer. Web pages and graphics consume bandwidth. Bandwidth and disk space cost money.
Many web hosting companies offer “unlimited” as a plan feature. It is impossible for any provider to actually provide an unlimited amount of bandwidth or disk space. It’s just not possible.
The network lines that carry data around the web (optic fiber, cable, copper wire etc) have a finite capacity. There is a limit to the amount of data that can be transferred at any point in time. Likewise, the hard drive of a hosting server has a limited amount of space determined by the physical size of the hard drive.
Many hosting companies claim to offer “unlimited” plans (both disk space and bandwidth), but be aware that there are physical limitations to both disk space and bandwidth.
The Attraction to Unlimited
When consumers decide they want to place a website on the internet, they are often unaware of the fact that there are limitations. Unlimited is attractive because it requires no further thought. If it’s unlimited then I never need to worry about running out right? Although this is understandable, there are risks with purchasing unlimited plans.
So Why Do Unlimited Plans Exist?
Most websites only consume a very small amount of bandwidth and disk space. Web hosting companies that provide unlimited plan feature are banking on the fact that you won’t use very much. Unlimited is a marketing trick to get your business. The web hosting market is very competitive. Although selling plans that pretend to be unlimited can seem dishonest, it does not mean that the hosting company will not provide good service. But they will put restrictions on your website content. Say for example, some hosts do not allow mp3, zip, tar, exe, and a number of other file types that are usually larger than standard
HTML and graphics.
If you intend to have a lot of visitors to your site, lots of downloads, including audio or video files, do not choose an unlimited plan hoping to get unrestricted bandwidth. You will find yourself with problems. Your web host is not going to run at a loss by providing you unlimited resources, so when your usage is more, they could shut down your website all of a sudden.
How to choose?
The best course of action is to plan ahead. Calculate what type of bandwidth and disk space you will need for your site and then multiply it by 2 just to allow for expansion. Remember, you can always buy more bandwidth or disk space if you need – often for only a few rupees a month extra. Look for plans that meet those requirements. If you have an ecommerce site or a site that you expect to grow in size and bandwidth in future, avoid any plans that offer unlimited bandwidth or disk space.