What internet speed do you need for IPTV?
Most home broadband connections in Europe are fast enough for IPTV. What matters is having enough speed per screen, plus some headroom for everything else in the house, and a connection that stays stable.
Recommended speed per screen
These are the speeds we recommend for one stream on one device. They are measured on the device itself, not at the router.
- SD: around 5 Mbps.
- HD and Full HD: at least 10 Mbps.
- 4K: at least 25 Mbps.
Several screens at once
Add up the screens that stream at the same time, then keep about a third extra for phones, laptops and other devices. For example, one 4K TV and one HD TV need about 35 Mbps; with headroom, aim for 50 Mbps or more.
Remember that the number of screens that can stream at the same time also depends on the connections in your plan.
How to test your connection properly
- Run the test on the device you watch on. Many TVs and sticks have a browser or a speed test app.
- Test at the time you normally watch, for example in the evening.
- Repeat the test three times and look at the lowest result, not the best one.
- Compare a test over Wi-Fi with one over a cable if you can. A big difference means Wi-Fi is your bottleneck.
Why stability matters more than speed
Live TV can only buffer a few seconds ahead. Short drops in your connection, which speed tests rarely show, are the most common reason for freezing. A wired connection, a well-placed router and the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band all reduce these drops.
Mobile data
You can watch on 4G and 5G, but streaming uses a lot of data: roughly 1 to 3 GB per hour in HD and more in 4K. Check your mobile plan before watching a full match away from Wi-Fi.
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