Bit Rate

Bit rate (i.e., bits per second, abbreviated bps) is a measure of the number of data bits (digital 0s and 1s) transmitted each second in a digital communications channel. If simple frequency shift key modulation (FSK) is used, each baud causes the transmission of just one bit, so the baud rate is equal to the bit rate. However, for a channel that uses four bits per baud (e.g., CCITT V.22), the baud rate is 1/4 of the bit rate.