Bandwidth needs vary widely because every camera model, codec, and quality setting behaves differently. There is no single universal requirement, but the ranges below will help you estimate what your site may need.
Typical Bandwidth Requirements
Some cameras can provide acceptable video at 100 Kbit/sec
Others may require 2 Mbit/sec or more for the same scene
For most Full HD (1080p) streams, we recommend at least 700 Kbit/sec to maintain smooth, reliable video
Actual consumption depends on:
Camera manufacturer and sensor quality
Codec used (H.264, H.265, Smart Codec variants)
Scene complexity (motion, lighting, detail)
Expected video quality and analytics needs
Special Cases
Very low‑motion or low‑detail scenes may work with as little as 50 Kbit/sec
Advanced analytics, such as face recognition or license plate reading, require higher bandwidth to preserve detail
Need Help Calculating Data Consumption?
For detailed guidance on how to calculate data usage and bandwidth requirements, please refer to the following articles: