The common question is “how many Mbps do I need?” It depends on what you do and how many devices run at once. These figures are approximate, per device.
| Activity | Approx. download per device |
|---|---|
| Browsing, messaging, WhatsApp | 1 – 3 Mbps |
| HD (1080p) streaming | 5 – 8 Mbps |
| 4K streaming | 15 – 25 Mbps |
| Video calls (Zoom / Teams / Meet) | 2 – 5 Mbps (and 2 – 3 Mbps upload) |
| Online gaming | 5 – 25 Mbps; ping under 50 ms matters most |
| Large game downloads and updates | The faster, the shorter the wait |
How to size your household
Add up what runs at the same time, then add about 30% headroom. Example: two people streaming 4K (about 40 Mbps) + a video call (5 Mbps) + three phones browsing (6 Mbps) = 51 Mbps, or about 66 Mbps with headroom. A 100 Mbps plan is comfortable here.
Don’t forget upload and ping
Upload speed matters for video calls, uploading video and backups; ping matters for gaming and calls. Measure all three on the speed test and compare with the table.
Is faster always better?
Beyond a point you will not feel a difference. If your real speed is constantly below your plan, the problem is usually Wi‑Fi or the router, not the plan – see how to fix slow Wi‑Fi.