Definition
A data transmission speed that sits between low and high bit rate options, used in digital communication and datalink systems to balance speed against signal reliability and bandwidth use.
Plain English
A medium-speed setting for sending digital information — not the slowest, not the fastest, but a middle option chosen to fit the situation.
Context Anchor
Seen in avionics, communications, and data-system documentation, especially where equipment data speeds are listed or compared.
Derivation
Bit rate means the number of bits (units of digital data) sent per second. Intermediate simply means in the middle. So the term names a middle-speed data transmission option.
Why Pilots Care
A pilot normally does not control IBR directly, but recognizing the term helps when reading aircraft equipment manuals, system descriptions, or maintenance notes that describe how fast electronic data is being sent.
Intuition Check
“Intermediate” does not mean temporary here. It means a middle speed between lower and higher data-rate options.
Example Sentence 1
The datalink system was configured to operate at the intermediate bit rate to maintain a stable connection during the flight.
Example Sentence 2
Technicians verified the IBR setting before the next test flight to ensure proper signal timing.