Is 5 Mbps Fast Enough For Netflix?
5mbps is good enough for Netflix given that the provider recommends the 5mbps for high definition streaming. For most people, slow streaming is simply not a welcome option and that is why most websites register high bounce rates thanks to slow or poor loading. A good number of netizens are not tolerant to slow internet speeds, whether they are streaming YouTube videos or uploading their content.
We must, however, agree that there are some applications that eat up data pretty fast, Netflix being one of them, and it even gets worse if you are using broadband that has data caps. And worse still is when your ISP charges you for going over the allocated broadband, which could then result in huge debts. So, while Netflix might chew on your data, there are some quality considerations, for example, the standard definition quality, requires only 3mbps.
Users who wish to stream HD quality will need about 5mbps, and for Ultra HD and 4K quality, they will need about 25mbps. In essence, therefore, the better the quality the higher the bandwidth, Netflix on its part also charges a bit higher for users who wish to get clearer videos.
What we must, therefore, realize is that the above speeds are for Netflix and not the overall internet activities, which by extension means that you will need more data speeds to cater to other browsing needs or devices that will have connected to the same network.
Video Quality |
Netflix data speeds recommendation |
Ultra HD/4K (2160p) |
25mbps |
HD (720p) |
5mbps |
SD (480p) |
3mbps |
Other bandwidth-intensive applications
The above allocation as we have stated are for Netflix only, so if you are to engage other bandwidth-intensive applications then you will have to ensure that you have more bandwidth left after Netflix’s allocation.
YouTube
According to statistics, about 1.3,000,000,000 people use youtube, and up to 300 hours of video are uploaded on YouTube at least every minute. So, for us who don’t have time to create content but can steal some time and watch the already uploaded videos, we cumulatively watch about 5billion videos every single day.
The above doesn’t however, mean that streaming on YouTube is any cheaper, infact it is ranked among the most bandwidth-intensive application, only that it is the new norm.
YouTube mobile Data Usage |
Quality |
250Mb |
Standard Definition |
600Mb |
High Definition |
5minute video (20Mb) |
Standard Definition |
500Mb |
Full HD |
The above brings us to the next question, is YouTube more bandwidth Intensive when compared to Netflix.
The simple answer is no, both YouTube and Netflix are bandwidth-intensive applications, it just depends on the video quality that an individual is streaming. And with that in mind, let us not forget that Netflix also does offer a wide spectrum of commercial movies most that are available in HD, which then means that Netflix automatically takes more bandwidth when compared to YouTube.
Skype and Face timing
Skype and Face timing eats up a lot of bandwidth, making the skype video calls, will, therefore, require about 30kbps and 4mbps, which cumulatively can be quite a lot if calculated on a monthly basis. Therefore, streaming at 30kbps skype will probably use up to 2.5Mb for every 20minutes.
So, unless you are on the unlimited data plan, using skype will be quite costly for any household. Netizens can, however, manage their Skype calls by canceling video and proceed with the normal voice call, and then once in a while, they can do the video calls.
Spotify
Spotify is also a bandwidth-intensive application that gives users the option to choose the quality that best suits them. And since most humans want the best of everything, you will rarely find anyone streaming in standard quality; and while the best quality will help you get through your day easily, it will also eat up at least 2.40Mb per minute.
While a full hour will take about 150Mb; so if you are using mobile data that will mean that you could finish about 6GB of data on a monthly basis.
Conclusion
The speeds recommended for streaming Netflix are not exorbitant but don’t get carried away by the 25mbps for Ultra HD and forget that you will probably want to log into Instagram, Facebook or a member of your family might even want to game using the same network. To be on the safe side we recommend that you get a data plan that offers about 50mbps, download speeds, and if your household is full then 100mbps will be ideal.
FAQ’s
- What are the internet speeds for the Amazon Prime Video?
If you want to avoid any interference or buffering then 25mbps should do.
- Is 5mbps enough for YouTube?
5mbps will only be enough to stream YouTube in HD
