Zoom video conferencing bandwidth requirements

Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (Zoom) launched its Zoom video conferencing software in 2013.

Zoom software saw a huge increase in the usage of its software in early 2020 during the covid-19 pandemic.

Video calling and conferencing in general have become an everyday feature in our work and social lives.

In this article, we simplify the internet bandwidth required to host, attend or participate in a Zoom audio and/or video conference or webinar.

You can use the broadband speed checker to check the speed of your current broadband internet connection to compare it against the requirements detailed below.

The overall quality of your Zoom call also depends on the utilisation of your broadband connection. If your broadband is over utilised you will still have a poor experience irrespective of the connection upload/download speed rating.

Zoom bandwidth requirements for Audio only calls

• A Zoom audio-only (VoIP) call needs just 60-80kbps (0.06-0.08Mbps) download speed
• A Zoom phone audio conversation needs between 60-100kbps (0.06-0.10Mbps) download speed

Most 3G, 4G and standard (10Mbps download) home and business broadband connections will support audio without any issues. Check the current upload and download speed of your broadband connection here.

Zoom bandwidth requirements for Attendees

Zoom attendees are view-only participants and their view of the webinar is controlled by the host. They can interact with the host and the panellists through the Q&A and chat.

Zoom video quality automatically adjusts depending on the upload and download bandwidth/speed available on your internet connection.

• Screen sharing with no video thumbnail will require an additional 50-75kbps (0.05-0.075Mbps) download speed.
• Screen sharing with video thumbnails will require an additional 50-150kbps (0.05-0.15Mbps) download speed.

1:1 (also referred to as 1 to 1 or peer-to-peer) video conference is a session with just 2 people.

Zoom bandwidth requirements for Panelists

Panellists are full participants in a webinar who can view and send videos, screen share, annotate, etc. You must be assigned panellist permissions by the webinar host.

The video quality will automatically adjust depending on your broadband internet connection bandwidth/speed to provide you with the best experience. The tables below detail the minimum broadband speed required.

What broadband bandwidth (speed) do I need for 1 to 1 video conference?

The download is for receiving video to your device (PC, laptop, tablet, phone, etc) and upload is required for sending video streams from your device.

What broadband bandwidth (speed) do I need for a group video conference?

• Screen sharing with no video thumbnail will need an extra 50-75kbps (0.05-0.075Mbps) upload/download
• Screen sharing with video thumbnail will need an extra 50-150kbps (0.06-0.15Mbps) upload/download

More reading: Zoom System requirements for Windows, macOS, and Linux

How much bandwidth (speed) do I need from a mobile phone?

If you use Zoom from a phone, the bandwidth used will be automatically optimised to provide the best experience based on your connection.

If the phone’s internet bandwidth speed is low, certain features will not be available or automatically scaled to a smaller screen.

How much data does Zoom use?

If your broadband internet package does not come with unlimited data, it may be useful to have an idea of the total data a Zoom session will use.

The total data consumption is dependent on factors such as the length of the call, video quality and other features that you may use in the call – such as screen sharing, breakout rooms, etc.

Zoom uses between 540MB – 1.7GB of data per hour for a one-on-one call and around 810MB – 2.4GB per hour for group meetings.

Mobile sessions use less data because Zoom optimises its bandwidth depending on your connections (i.e 3G, 45/LTE, 5G, etc).

How to troubleshoot Zoom wireless connection issue

If your Zoom meeting sessions are continually dropping, getting disconnected, or freezing or you have poor video or audio when connected via WiFi, these troubleshooting steps may help you find the cause of these issues.

You can join a Zoom test call to check if your performance improves whilst going through the troubleshooting steps below.

5 Steps to troubleshoot zoom connection issues at home

If you are on your home broadband and experiencing connectivity issues, these steps will help isolate the cause of your Zoom call problems.

1. Check the Zoom service status page to ensure that there are no outages.
   
   Also, check Zoom status at Downdetector to see if other people in your area reporting similar problems.
2. Check your broadband speed and refer to the minimum bandwidth requirements covered at the top of this article.
3. Stand directly in front of your broadband wireless router and retry the Zoom call. If performance improves, the issue is a coverage issue on your Wifi. You may need to reposition your wireless router, use a Wifi signal booster or check that there are no obstructions.
4. If still no joy, connect your device directly to your broadband router using an ethernet cable. If the performance improves then the issue is with your Wifi set-up/connection.
5. If you are connected to your office via VPN, disconnect and check if the call connectivity improves.

4 Steps to troubleshoot zoom connections issues at work

If you are at the office and connected to your company’s  internal WiFi network, try the following:

1. Switch to a wired connection to see if performance improves
2. Switch to a different WiFi Access point/hotspot by wandering into a different area of the building and checking if the connectivity improves. If the connection improves, contact your IT department to check the WiFi Access point/hotspot closest to your desk.
3. Check your broadband speed and refer to the minimum bandwidth requirements covered at the top of this article. Turn off group HD in your Account Management if your WiFI bandwidth is insufficient.
4. Check if a colleague(s) sitting in the same area, is having the same problem. If so, the issue may be the company’s internet connection. If your colleague does not experience the same issue, then the problem may be with your PC or laptop. In either case, contact your IT department.

Zoom Frequently Asked Questions