The maximum user signaling rate, synonymous to gross bit rate or data signaling rate, is the maximum rate, in bits per second, at which binary information can be transferred in a given direction between users over the communications system facilities dedicated to a particular information transfer transaction, under conditions of continuous transmission and no overhead information.
For a single channel, the signaling rate is given by S C S R = log 2 n T {\displaystyle SCSR={\frac {\log _{2}{n}}{T}}} , where SCSR is the single-channel signaling rate in bits per second, T is the minimum time interval in seconds for which each level must be maintained, and n is the number of significant conditions of modulation of the channel.
In the case where an individual end-to-end telecommunications service is provided by parallel channels, the parallel-channel signaling rate is given by P C S R = ∑ i = 1 m log 2 n i T i {\displaystyle PCSR=\sum _{i=1}^{m}{\frac {\log _{2}{n_{i}}}{T_{i}}}} , where PCSR is the total signaling rate for m channels, m is the number of parallel channels, Ti is the minimum interval between significant instants for the I-th channel, and ni is the number of significant conditions of modulation for the I-th channel.
In the case where an end-to-end telecommunications service is provided by tandem channels, the end-to-end signaling rate is the lowest signaling rate among the component channels.
See also: Serial ATA § Comparison with other buses, and List of interface bit rates