Public Bandwidth
Public bandwidth adapted to your project
Every OVHcloud dedicated server comes with public bandwidth, with options to increase guaranteed capacity as your traffic, data transfer or server bandwidth needs grow.
Your dedicated server has a minimum public bandwidth of 500 Mbps, along with burst capacity to absorb short spikes without affecting the user experience. You can also increase your bandwidth capacity, and make it guaranteed for specific upload requirements or mass distribution like software updates, VOD (video on demand) and live streaming. Whether you’re running a busy hosting environment, delivering video and other content, or handling high usage at peak time, you can choose a level that fits your application and keeps performance steady.
Unlimited and unmetered traffic
Your public bandwidth is unlimited and unmetered, so you’re not tied to a fixed transfer allowance. If your project has more demanding bandwidth usage, you can add guaranteed capacity to keep throughput stable for incoming and outgoing data transfer.
This is especially useful for websites, platforms and services that need reliable delivery during busy periods, large download waves, or heavier load across your infrastructure.
You also benefit from unlimited, unmetered bandwidth, while our global infrastructure keeps speed consistent and latency low for visitors across regions.
Burst included, with guaranteed options
Burst capacity helps you handle short peaks in traffic without changing your base setup. If you need more predictable throughput, you can choose a guaranteed bandwidth option for workloads that require steady speed, such as software download, patch distribution, or high-volume delivery over a longer period of time.
Our 1 Gbps and 3 Gbps burst features are enabled by default on our 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps options respectively, allowing you to match capacity to real demand instead of paying for more than your business actually needs.
Connectivity optimised for global delivery
Thanks to our bandwidth ranges, you can make the most of all or part of the global OVHcloud infrastructure, which includes datacentres across Europe, Asia and America. It helps you deliver data efficiently to users across different regions, with lower latency and reliable throughput. This matters when you’re serving international visitors, distributing media, or running platforms where fast loading and stable access shape the overall user experience.
By aligning capacity with real demand, you can reduce congestion, improve delivery, and keep your online services responsive as traffic grows.
Want to extend your public bandwidth capacity?
Log in to the OVHcloud Control Panel to review your options, choose the right plan, and upgrade as your needs grow.
Public bandwidth to meet your needs
Handle large uploads and high-volume distribution with ease
When many people access the same files or updates at once, transfer demand rises quickly. Adding guaranteed bandwidth helps keep delivery stable for software rollouts, shared file access, and other high-volume distribution tasks.
With OVHcloud, you can increase the bandwidth for a specific period, especially when faced with daily demand or audience growth. It’s a practical option for platforms that need consistent transfer capacity.
Keep your performance stable during peak traffic
Traffic spikes can come from campaigns, product launches, seasonal demand, or sudden visibility online. When that happens, limited capacity can slow pages, increase loading time, and affect the experience for every user.
With guaranteed bandwidth and a burst capacity, our solution is ideal for network load peaks. If traffic exceeds your guaranteed bandwidth, the burst feature will accommodate the extra load.
Optimise bandwidth for media delivery (VOD and live streaming)
A reliable connection is essential for delivering high-quality online media and video streaming. Services such as VOD and live broadcasts rely on large volumes of data transfer, and limited capacity can quickly lead to latency issues and poor playback.
Scaling can be challenging, especially when infrastructure struggles to keep up with growing traffic and simultaneous connections. That often leads to buffering, delays, and a weaker user experience, particularly during live events.
With our optimised cross-connect solutions, your infrastructure adapts to user locations and demand in real time. This helps maintain consistent performance, reduce latency, and ensure smooth delivery of your content – so your on-demand and live streaming services run reliably at scale.
Public bandwidth for dedicated server
What is server bandwidth?
In hosting, server bandwidth is the rate at which data moves between a server and the internet. Simply put, it defines how much traffic your server can handle over a connection at any given moment. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits per second, such as Mbps, Gbps or bps.
Higher capacity doesn’t automatically mean faster page generation, but it does allow your project to support more visitors, larger files, and higher transfer demand without bottlenecks.
How do I increase bandwidth?
To increase guaranteed bandwidth for your OVHcloud server, log in to your control panel, review the available options, and choose the capacity that fits your current and future needs. A solid estimate should include average traffic, larger downloads, media delivery, and expected growth over the coming month or campaign period.
If your project relies on stable throughput for customer-facing services, it’s worth planning ahead so you can avoid rushed upgrades later.
How do I choose server bandwidth?
Choosing the right server bandwidth depends on your project type, expected traffic, and how your data transfer evolves over time.
Start by identifying your average number of visitors, the size of your pages or files, the type of content delivered (such as static pages, video, or downloads), and your expected growth over the next month.
For example, a business website with moderate daily traffic won’t have the same bandwidth requirements as a streaming platform or a high-volume application.
You should also consider peak scenarios. Campaigns, product launches, or viral exposure can increase traffic quickly. In these cases, having flexible options such as burst capacity or scalable plans helps you avoid performance issues.
What impacts bandwidth usage?
Several factors affect your bandwidth usage, including the number of concurrent visitors, file size (images, video, downloads), and how often data transfer occurs. Your application type and use of caching also influence how efficiently your server handles traffic.
High-resolution media, frequent downloads, and streaming services can quickly increase demand, especially during peak traffic periods, which can slow loading and impact the user experience.
To keep things running smoothly, optimise file sizes, use caching or a CDN, and streamline how your content is delivered. This helps reduce load, improve speed, and maintain a consistent experience as demand grows.
What are the different bandwidth types?
Not all bandwidth works the same way. Understanding the different types helps you choose the right setup. These can be combined depending on your requirements, giving you flexibility while keeping control over resources and performance.
- Unmetered bandwidth allows unlimited data transfer, making it ideal for unpredictable traffic.
- Guaranteed bandwidth provides stable throughput for critical services.
- Burst bandwidth lets you temporarily exceed your base capacity during spikes in traffic or usage.
What is a high bandwidth server?
High bandwidth servers are built for projects that need large volumes of data transfer, fast speed, and reliable delivery. It’s particularly suited to use cases such as streaming, large-scale download services, and cloud-based applications.
With higher capacity, your infrastructure can:
- Deliver faster loading times
- Reduce latency during peak traffic
- Handle multiple simultaneous connections
- Maintain consistent performance under load
- Support global users and heavy content delivery
What happens when I exceed bandwidth limits?
When you exceed bandwidth limits, your service may continue running but with reduced connection quality or throttled load. OVHcloud may suggest upgrading your plan based on your average usage, monthly growth, and expected demand over the next month, helping maintain stable performance without disruption.
How much bandwidth do I need for my website?
Start with a simple estimate based on your average daily load, page size, and number of connections. Choose a plan that can continue to support growth over the month, maintain a stable connection, and handle increasing load across your cloud or dedicated setup.