Tonycomm Group LTD focuses on offering unlimited, uninterrupted internet connection to customers in Nakuru, Kenya. Our internet service supports different online activities, including streaming. So how much data do you actually need for streaming?
Ideally, the amount of data you need for streaming depends on the platform you use. In our experiment, we found that different video platforms, including YouTube, Netflix, TikTok, and Hulu, consume varying amount of data.
Some platforms need less data compared to others. So it’ important to know how much speed different platforms need before you subscribe to a specific internet package.
Internet Speed Requirement for Video Streaming
Do you use video streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos, YouTube, and Spotify? Here’s what you need to know about how much speed these streaming services need.
Netflix
Netflix is one of the most popular video streaming services in Kenya. The service offers mobile, basic, standard, and premium plans.
| Plan | Price (Kshs.) | Quality | Speed |
| Mobile | 200 | Standard Definition | 1Mbps |
| Basic | 300 | High Definition | 3Mbps |
| Standard | 700 | Full High Definition | 5Mbps |
| Premium | 1,100 | 4K Ultra HD | 15Mbps |
Netflix’s plans vary based on the resolution and the number of devices you can watch on at the same time.
You stream at a speed of 1Mbps if you subscribe to the mobile plan for smartphones and tablets and at 15Mps for 4K Ultra HD. It’s best to choose an internet package that gives you speeds of up to 20Mbps if you want to stream Netflix in the best resolution.
Amazon Prime Videos
| Video Quality | Recommended Speed |
| Standard Definition | 1Mbps |
| High Definition | 3.5Mpbs |
| 4K Ultra HD | 15Mbps |
Amazon Prime Video offers three tiers of video quality for streaming. Amazon’s minimum requirement is 1 Mbps for standard definition (SD) streaming. High definition (HD) streaming requires at least 5 Mbps. 4K Ultra HD streaming needs speeds of up to 15 Mbps.
The bottom line is:
You’ll need 3Mbps for SD, 5Mbps for HD, and at least 25Mbps for 4K streaming per device at a time. The streaming speeds and quality tend to go significantly lower if you have multiple devices connected to the internet, so ensure you’ve subscribed to an internet plan that can support all your gadgets.
Internet Speed for Live Streaming
You can do live stream on Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Live. Below is how much speed you’d need to get this done:
| Platform | Upload Speeds | Download Speeds |
| Twitch | 3 to 6Mbps | 4 to 6Mbps |
| YouTube | 1 to 5Mbps | 1 to 15Mbps |
| Facebook Live | 4Mbps | 5Mbps |
Twitch
You should have an upload speed ranging from 3 to 6 Mbps for Twitch streaming. The average upload speed in the Kenya sits at around 20Mbps, granting ample bandwidth for Twitch broadcasts. If you’re solely tuning into Twitch streams, your download speeds should ideally fall between 4 and 6 Mbps.
YouTube
The upload speed prerequisites for YouTube Live vary significantly due to the range of available video resolutions, which span from 360p to 4K Ultra HD at 60 frames per second. The highest quality demands approximately 51 Mbps upload speeds, while the lowest resolution requires as little as 1 Mbps. Most streamers will find themselves somewhere in between.
Facebook Live
A minimum upload speed of 4 Mbps is sufficient for live streaming on Facebook Live. With a maximum resolution of 1080p, Facebook Live’s speed requirements are lower if compared to platforms such as YouTube Live.
Which Factors Affect Internet Speed?
The factors that affect internet speed include type of internet connectivity, number of users, streaming activities, connection traffic, and internet throttling.
1. Type of Connectivity
The internet options available in your area significantly influence the speed for your household. Wireless, Cable, and Fiber connections are the most common types of internet connection in Kenya, and they offer good speeds.
Cable internet usually provides speeds from 1.5 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps, while fiber-optic internet can outstrip cable speeds by tens or even hundreds of Mbps.
2. Number of Users
The number of users accessing the internet can drastically affect its performance. The bandwidth of your high-speed internet is finite, and the more individuals using it simultaneously, the more susceptible it is to latency.
3. Streaming Activities
Different streaming activities consume varying amounts of bandwidth. Typically, activities with higher recommended internet speeds, such as Facebook Live and Twitch streaming, demand more bandwidth compared to lower-demand activities such as streaming music on Spotify.
4. Internet Connection Traffic
Connection traffic refers to the competition for bandwidth on your network. During peak times, heavy bandwidth usage by devices like gaming consoles can lead to decreased speeds, even in smaller households.
5. Bandwidth Throttling
Some internet service providers may throttle bandwidth or slow connections during streaming, gaming, or large file downloads. This practice, known as “throttling,” might also occur if consumers exceed their monthly data cap.
