Poor network configurations cause blockages and slowdowns, reducing worker productivity and earnings in many businesses. To eliminate insufficient bandwidth, businesses should invest in proven bandwidth utilization monitoring technologies that provide both a granular and a big-picture view of organizational data usage. As a result, managed service providers may be able to better create effective solutions for businesses with insufficient bandwidth. What exactly is streaming bandwidth? the distinction between bandwidth and speed? And the last one is what bandwidth is required for 1080p streaming? And how to calculate your bandwidth usage, we will answer everything in this article.
What is Network Bandwidth
Bandwidth is a network’s ability to upload and download data. Internet bandwidth is the amount of data you can transmit in a given amount of time. It is usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
Upload bandwidth is used when streaming video to the Internet. Knowing your network’s available upload bandwidth is critical because it determines the quality of your outgoing streams. The available bandwidth is determined by the network router, the environment, and, most importantly, the type of connection.
Bandwidth capabilities are heavily influenced by the plans and providers you use, as well as how you access the Internet. Furthermore, the amount of video bandwidth required varies depending on the activity. Uploading small text files and sending emails, for example, require little bandwidth, whereas streaming HD video requires a little more. Nonetheless, certain metrics are critical in comprehending the significance of video bandwidth.
Difference Between Bandwidth and Speed of Internet
Several online speed tests are available to determine how fast your network is. This is not exactly the same as bandwidth. Though the terms are frequently use interchangeably, there is a distinction between the two. If bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be transferred, speed is the rate at which data is actually downloaded or uploaded.
Because live streaming involves uploading data to the Internet, adequate upload speed is essential. In fact, sufficient upload bandwidth and upload speed are required for successful live streaming.
Important Terms to Better Understand Bandwidth
● Bitrate
It is the amount of data sent over a network in a given time period. If the bandwidth is 50 Mbps but the bitrate is 20 Mbps, 50 Mb of data can be transferred but the channel is only transmitting 20 Mb per second. Bitrate is related to video quality and file size. Higher bitrate streaming produces higher quality streams but consumes a large amount of bandwidth.
● Frequency
The rate at which sequential images are project in a video to create the illusion of motion. High-speed streaming, particularly in sports, necessitates shooting video at a higher frame rate. Video bandwidth and frame rate are inextricably linked. The greater the frame rate, the greater the bandwidth consumption.
● Resolution
The width and height of a video are measure in pixels as video resolution. The higher the video quality, the more pixels there are. High-resolution videos have large file sizes, requiring more bandwidth.
● Compressed Videos
Uncompressed videos consume a lot of storage space. Uncompressed HD video footage takes up nearly 10 GB of space per minute of video and may vary depending on the frame rate. To reduce file size, video compression converts large raw video streams into smaller video files. As a result, compressed videos require less bandwidth to transmit.
Ideal Bandwidth
The amount of bandwidth required is determine by the bitrate of your encoding. For instance, if you encode at 3,000 Kbps, you will require at least 3 Mbps of upload bandwidth. If the bitrate of your stream is too high in comparison to the upload bandwidth, your live stream will be unreliable for viewers. A stream with a bitrate of 6,000 Kbps, for example, will not work on a network with an upload bandwidth limit of 5 Mbps. YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook all have different speed requirements and recommended encoding settings. So, before you start streaming you need to double check.
A minimum internet speed of 3 Mbps is recommend for 480p live streaming. The minimum download bandwidth varies based on the streaming service. When various devices connect to the Internet at the same time, a larger bandwidth may be required. For example, if you want to live stream in 720p or 1080p, you will need at least 5 Mbps of bandwidth. The minimum limit for seamless 4K streaming is around 25 Mbps.
Free Bandwidth Calculator
To get a bandwidth number, you need to run a typical test, which will produce a calculation of average Bps.While monitoring your bandwidth usage a free bandwidth calculator by LivePush will give you a far more accurate calculation of your network and users’ demand. It will give you your bandwidth estimations and it also suggests you the perfect plan.
But what is going to happen if you have a low bandwidth? If a network is experiencing low bandwidth a business will surely face a challenge that may slow the workflow and cut into the bottom line. Low bandwidth will price the business literally, major interruptions can suggest an instantaneous hit on a workday.
Manual Bandwidth Calculation
| RESOLUTION | MBPS |
| 240 | 3.48 |
| 360 | 6.72 |
| 480 | 9.72 |
| 720 | 19.54 |
| 1080 | 38.94 |
If you have 100 people watching a 20-minute 1080p video, you would do the following:
Per view, 20 x 38.94 = 778.8 MB
Per view, 778.8 / 1024 =.7605 GB.
7605 x 100 = 76.05 GB
The total bandwidth used if 100 viewers watched all 20 minutes of a video at 1080p is 76.05 GBs.
Low Bandwidth Solution
It can be difficult to determine the cause of the low bandwidth. Firms may need to examine their overall network practices and services on a broader scale. Remember to plot the solutions as you lay out the network.
Modem
Multiprotocol label switching networks, for example, can prioritize key functions such as video conferencing. MSPs must work to provide a great service structure that optimizes bandwidth allocation across both LAN and WAN environments. Another option is to replace outdated hardware such as routers, cables, and modems. Low bandwidth is a common issue that businesses may request MSPS to resolve
Final Thoughts
Bandwidth can be use to determine how your internet is working. And it is relatively important to know your bandwidth for corporate usage or if you have an important task to do daily. The amount of streaming bandwidth required for a reliable live broadcast is determine by a number of factors. While there is no “one size fits all” configuration, you can publish an effective or efficient live stream regardless of your network with the right tweaking. It is a difficult task to check each requirement manually so to calculate your bandwidth usage you can use the free bandwidth calculator by LivePush which will definitely ease your life.
