Committed Information Rate

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What Does Committed Information Rate Mean?

In frame relay networks, the committed information rate
(CIR) is the bandwidth that is allocated to a logical connection in a permanent
virtual circuit (PVC). The bandwidth is guaranteed by the provider even if
other customers are sharing the same physical connection over frame relay. The
bandwidth is expressed in kilobits per second.

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Techopedia Explains Committed Information Rate

With frame relay networks, multiple customers can share the
same physical wires using virtual circuits. Since different customers have
different bandwidth needs, providers can designate faster connections to those
who need them with a committed information rate. A streaming video
provider running a content delivery network needs more throughput than a
customer primarily sending text data, for example. Under a CIR, a customer is guaranteed a certain bandwidth under a service level agreement. Frame relay
connections are also usually burstable with an excess information rate (EIR) or
peak information rate (PIR).

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.