Bluetooth Low Energy data throughput

This chapter outlines achievable Bluetooth® Low Energy connection throughput for Generic Attribute Protocol (GATT) procedures used to send and receive data in stated SoftDevice configurations.

The throughput numbers listed in this chapter are based on measurements in an interference-free radio environment. Maximum throughput is only achievable if the application, without delay, reads data packets as they are received and provides new data as packets are transmitted. The connection event length should be set to such a value that the entire connection event can be filled with packets. The SoftDevice may transfer as many packets as can fit within the connection event as specified by the event length for the connection. For example, in simplex communication, where data is transmitted in only one direction, more time will be available for sending packets. Therefore, there may be extra TX-RX packet pairs in connection events. Additionally, more time can be made available for a connection by extending the connection events beyond their reserved time. See Connection timing with Connection Event Length Extension for more information.

The maximum data throughput numbers given in this chapter represent the maximum amount of data that can be transferred between two applications in a given time. The maximum throughput depends on the mechanism used to transfer data. When the application utilizes ATT Handle Value Notification or ATT Write Command, the transactions are one direction only. When the application utilizes ATT Write Request, it is assumed that the peer responds with an ATT Write Response in the next connection interval. The throughput will in this case be limited to one packet every second connection interval. The amount of data in each packet is the MTU size subtracted by the ATT header size. Therefore, the throughput can be expressed as follows:

Throughput_bps = num_packets * (ATT_MTU - 3) * 8 / seconds

All data throughput values apply to packet transfers over an encrypted connection using maximum payload sizes.

The following table shows maximum data throughput at a connection interval of 7.5 ms for a single central connection.

Table 1. Data throughput for a single connection with 23 byte ATT MTU
Protocol ATT MTU size Event length Method Maximum data throughput (LE 1M PHY) Maximum data throughput (LE 2M PHY)
GATT Client 23 7.5 ms Receive Notification 192.0 kbps 277.3 kbps
Send Write command 192.0 kbps 277.3 kbps
Send Write request 10.6 kbps 10.6 kbps
Simultaneous receive Notification and send Write command 149.3 kbps (each direction) 213.3 kbps (each direction)
GATT Server 23 7.5 ms Send Notification 192.0 kbps 277.3 kbps
Receive Write command 192.0 kbps 277.3 kbps
Receive Write request 10.6 kbps 10.6 kbps
Simultaneous send Notification and receive Write command 149.3 kbps (each direction) 213.3 kbps (each direction)
GATT Server 158 7.5 ms Send Notification 248.0 kbps 358.2 kbps
Receive Write command 248.0 kbps 358.2 kbps
Receive Write request 82.6 kbps 82.6 kbps
Simultaneous send Notification and receive Write command 192.9 kbps (each direction) 275.5 kbps (each direction)
GATT Client 23 3.75 ms Receive Notification 85.3 kbps 106.6 kbps
Send Write command 85.3 kbps 106.6 kbps
Send Write request 10.6 kbps 10.6 kbps
Simultaneous receive Notification and send Write command 64.0 kbps (each direction) 106.6 kbps (each direction)
GATT Server 23 3.75 ms Send Notification 85.3 kbps 106.6 kbps
Receive Write command 85.3 kbps 106.6 kbps
Receive Write request 10.6 kbps 10.6 kbps
Simultaneous send Notification and receive Write command 64.0 kbps (each direction) 106.6 kbps (each direction)
GATT Client 23 2.5 ms Receive Notification 42.6 kbps 64.0 kbps
Send Write command 42.6 kbps 64.0 kbps
Send Write request 10.6 kbps 10.6 kbps
Simultaneous receive Notification and send Write command 42.6 kbps (each direction) 64.0 kbps (each direction)
GATT Server 23 2.5 ms Send Notification 42.6 kbps 64.0 kbps
Receive Write command 42.6 kbps 64.0 kbps
Receive Write request 10.6 kbps 10.6 kbps
Simultaneous send Notification and receive Write command 42.6 kbps (each direction) 64.0 kbps (each direction)

A connection interval of 20 ms and an event length of 2.5 ms allows up to eight connections. The maximum throughput per connection for this case, using 23 byte ATT MTU, is shown in Data throughput for up to 8 connections.

For connections with longer event length, a longer connection interval would need to be used for each connection to prevent connection events from overlapping. See Scheduling for more information on how connections can be configured.

Table 2. Data throughput for up to 8 connections
Protocol Event length Method Maximum data throughput (LE 1M PHY)
GATT Client 2.5 ms Receive Notification 16.0 kbps
Send Write command 16.0 kbps
Send Write request 4.0 kbps
Simultaneous receive Notification and send Write command 8.0 kbps (each direction)
GATT Server 2.5 ms Send Notification 16.0 kbps
Receive Write command 16.0 kbps
Receive Write request 4.0 kbps
Simultaneous send Notification and receive Write command 8.0 kbps (each direction)