In [[Web hosting service]], the term ''bandwidth'' is often incorrectly used to describe the amount of data transferred to or from the website or server within a prescribed period of time, for example ''bandwidth consumption accumulated over a month'' measured in gigabytes per month.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Jerry |title=How Much Hosting Bandwidth Do I Need For My Website? |url=https://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/blog/web-hosting-guides/how-much-bandwidth-does-your-site-really-need/ |website=WHSR|date=27 March 2022 }}</ref> The more accurate phrase used for this meaning of a maximum amount of data transfer each month or given period is ''monthly data transfer''.
A similar situation can occur for end-user ISPs as well, especially where network capacity is limited (for example in areas with underdeveloped internet connectivity and on wireless networks).
