Final answer:
The speed at which a modem transmits data is called its bandwidth or data transfer rate, measured in Mbps or Gbps. Wave velocity, also significant in data transmission, is the speed of the electromagnetic wave carrying data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The speed with which a modem transmits data is called its bandwidth or data transfer rate. This speed is typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps). When discussing the transmission of data over a network, including modems, routers, and other networking equipment, it's essential to consider both the bandwidth and the wave velocity, which is the speed at which a signal or disturbance moves through a medium. In the context of wireless communications, such as Wi-Fi, wave velocity refers to the speed of the electromagnetic wave carrying the data.
For example, a computer user with a wireless router that transmits data at a rate of 75 Mbps can send or receive 75 million bits in one second. This high data transmission speed is vital for efficient internet browsing, streaming, and file downloading. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) conducts broadband speed tests to ensure users receive the speeds promised by Internet Service Providers (ISPs).