Most picture problems with internet television come down to one thing: a connection that cannot keep up with the picture quality you have chosen. The requirements are easy to work out, though, and this article shows how.
Speed by picture quality
| Quality | Approximate speed per device |
|---|---|
| SD | 3 to 5 Mb/s |
| HD 720p | 5 to 8 Mb/s |
| Full HD 1080p | 8 to 12 Mb/s |
| 4K UHD | 20 to 25 Mb/s |
Fast-moving content such as sport tends to need more bandwidth than a calm studio programme.
It is the download speed that matters
When you run a speed test, look at the download result, since that is what a stream uses. Upload speed is not relevant here.
Adding up several devices
If more than one screen is on at the same time, add their speeds together, then add roughly 25 percent for everything else happening on the network.
Example: two TVs in Full HD plus a phone in HD, all at once.
- Two TVs at 10 Mb/s each: 20 Mb/s.
- One phone in HD: about 6 Mb/s.
- Total: 26 Mb/s, plus headroom: about 33 Mb/s.
A household like that should have a connection of at least 40 Mb/s.
Testing your connection
- Connect the device you will actually watch on to your usual network.
- Run a speed test in the browser.
- Note the download result.
- Repeat in the evening, when home networks are busiest, to see the worst case.
Wi-Fi or a cable
- Ethernet cable: the most reliable option, especially for 4K.
- 5 GHz Wi-Fi: faster than 2.4 GHz but with a shorter range; keep the router close.
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi: better range, but slower and more easily disturbed by neighbours' networks and household devices.
Rules of thumb
- One device in HD: 15 to 25 Mb/s is usually enough.
- A family with two or three screens: plan for 40 to 60 Mb/s.
- 4K on one TV: at least 35 to 40 Mb/s, preferably by cable.
- Several screens including 4K: 100 Mb/s or more.
If your connection falls short, lowering the picture quality in the app or reducing the number of screens running at once will usually fix the stuttering. For more fixes, see IPTV buffering: causes and fixes, or ask us which plan suits your household.