How much download speed is necessary for streaming?

A practical approach to determining your internet plan's required speed is by considering the speed demands of the online services you frequently use. 

Minimal internet usage, such as web browsing with text and images and sending emails, generally requires around 5-10Mbps per user. For a two-person household, a recommended choice would typically be the 25Mbps plan, as it provides adequate coverage for general internet usage without compromising speed. 

When engaging in streaming services or conducting online video calls, we advise having 10-25Mbps per person in your household. In a two-person household, this could mean opting for either the 25Mbps or 50Mbps plan, depending on the frequency of such services. 

If you're uncertain about which broadband data allowance to choose, a rough guideline is to allocate 3GB per hour of use per person. For most households, an unlimited plan offers the most flexibility. 

To gain a deeper understanding of these allowances and the data usage associated with various online activities, read on. 

YouTube 

The amount of data consumed on YouTube depends on the video quality. The table below provides insights into data usage. 

  • 4K (UHD): 10 Minutes - 450 MB, 1 Hour - 2.7GB 
  • 1080p (HD): 10 Minutes - 275 MB, 1 Hour - 1.65GB 
  • 720p (SD): 10 Minutes - 145 MB, 1 Hour - 870 MB 
  • 480p (SD): 10 Minutes - 44 MB, 1 Hour - 264 MB 

Netflix & Stan 

For viewers who enjoy binge-watching TV shows, data usage can be significant, especially in 4K quality. 

  • 4K (UHD): 1 Hour - 7GB 
  • 1080p (HD): 1 Hour - 3GB 
  • 720p (SD): 1 Hour - 1GB 
  • 480p (SD): 1 Hour - 500 MB 

Fetch TV 

Similar to other streaming services, Fetch consumes around 1GB of data per hour for standard definition and 3GB per hour for High Definition. Your monthly data usage depends on your viewing habits. 

  • 1 or 2 movies a week on the starter pack: Approximately 20GB per month. 
  • 1 or 2 movies a week plus 2 hours of TV streaming daily on the entertainment pack: Roughly 60GB per month. 
  • 4 hours of streamed TV daily on the entertainment pack or the world channels: At least 120GB per month. 

Video Chat – Zoom 

  • With the increased use of Zoom and similar platforms, virtual meetings and catch-ups have become commonplace. Adjusting video quality settings can impact data usage. 
  • 1:1 Call on Zoom (High Quality): 270 MB/hr Download, 270 MB/hr Upload, 540 MB/hr Total 
  • 1:1 Call on Zoom (720p): 540 MB/hr Download, 540 MB/hr Upload, 1.08 GB/hr Total 
  • Group Call on Zoom (High Quality): 450 MB/hr Download, 360 MB/hr Upload, 810 MB/hr Total 
  • Group Call on Zoom (720p): 675 MB/hr Download, 675 MB/hr Upload, 1.35 GB/hr Total 
  • Group Call on Zoom (1080p): 1.2 GB/hr Download, 1.2 GB/hr Upload, 2.4 GB/hr Total 

Audio Streaming – Spotify, Apple Music 

  • Data consumption for audio streaming depends on the audio quality and platform used. 
  • Spotify (Free): Per Second - 160kbps, Per Minute - 1.2MB, Per Hour - 72MB 
  • Spotify (Premium): Per Second - 320kbps, Per Minute - 2.4MB, Per Hour - 144MB 
  • Apple Music: Per Second - 256kbps, Per Minute - 1.9MB, Per Hour - 115MB 
  • Google Music: Per Second - 320kbps, Per Minute - 2.4MB, Per Hour - 144MB 

Gaming – PS4, XBOX, Switch, and PC 

Online gaming typically has relatively low data usage, ranging from 10 MB to 50 MB per hour. However, keep in mind that most games require substantial downloads before playing. 

Social Media – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter 

Casual social media browsing uses approximately 1.5MB per minute. As interactions increase (e.g., watching videos, clicking on photos, commenting, messaging), data usage can rise to 2.5-3MB per minute. Monthly social media data usage is typically around 3GB. 

Web Browsing

The average web page load requires between 1MB to 2.5MB. Combining this with an average user's browsing habits, you'll use roughly 7GB of data per month.