Event bandwidth calculator
Enter what will run at the busiest moment. The calculator adds up download and upload separately, with headroom, and suggests a service class.
To size internet for an event, add up the busiest moment separately for download and upload: about 1.5 Mbps each way per person on a video call, 0.5 Mbps per other active device, 1.5–2× each live stream’s bitrate in upload, plus any large uploads, then add about 25% headroom. Upload usually decides the plan.
| Use | Down (Mbps) | Up (Mbps) | Working |
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Assumptions: video calls 1.5 Mbps each way; other active devices 0.5 Mbps down; streams need 1.75× their bitrate in upload; guest devices capped at 2 Mbps; 25% headroom on the total. Subject to what the address can get.
The method
Bandwidth planning is about the busiest moment, not the average. List what runs at the same time, give each use a realistic rate, add them up separately for download and upload, and leave headroom. For production offices and media teams the upload column is usually the deciding one; for public events, capping guest devices keeps the total predictable. The full guide walks through worked examples, and upload for live streaming covers stream headroom.
Frequently asked questions
How much bandwidth do I need for an event?
Add up what runs at the busiest moment: about 1.5 Mbps each way for every person on a video call, about 0.5 Mbps for each other active device, 1.5 to 2 times the bitrate of each live stream in upload, and the upload rate of anyone sending large files. Then add around 25% headroom. The calculator on this page does that sum.
Why does upload matter so much?
Live streams, video calls, media uploads and cloud backups all send data out, and many standard internet plans give a small fraction of the download speed in upload. An event can have plenty of download and still fail because the stream and the uploads are fighting over a thin upload link.
What internet service should I ask for?
Match both numbers: the service has to meet the download and the upload. The calculator suggests a typical fibre service class, but what is available depends on the address, so we check that before quoting. Where a fixed service cannot be activated in time, 4G/5G routers can bridge the gap if mobile coverage is good.
Not sure what you need yet?
Send us the venue, dates and headcount. We will tell you what the network needs and quote it as one job.