What Internet Speed Do You Need for IPTV in HD and 4K?

Short answer: plan for about 10 Mbps per screen for HD and 25 Mbps per screen for 4K, measured on the device you watch on. A stable connection matters more than a high peak speed: a steady 30 Mbps beats a "500 Mbps" line that drops every few minutes.

How much speed each quality needs

If two people watch at the same time, add the numbers together: one HD stream plus one 4K stream needs roughly 35 Mbps.

Why stability beats peak speed

Live TV streams arrive continuously. A short drop in your connection empties the player's buffer and the picture freezes, even if your average speed looks high. That's why a cabled connection is usually better than Wi-Fi for live sport, and why evenings (when the whole neighbourhood is online) can feel slower.

How to test your connection properly

1. Run a speed test on the device you watch on (a TV browser, the Fire TV Stick, your phone on the same Wi-Fi), not on another computer.
2. Test in the evening, when you usually watch.
3. Look at jitter and packet loss as well as download speed. Packet loss above 1% often causes freezing.

Five ways to improve your picture

• Use Ethernet where you can. For a Fire TV Stick, an Ethernet adapter costs little and helps a lot.
• Use the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band and keep the router in the open, not inside a cabinet.
• Restart your router every few weeks to clear its memory.
• Pause big downloads (game updates, cloud backups) while you watch.
• Choose HD instead of 4K on busy evenings if your line is borderline.

Still buffering?

Follow our buffering checklist or the setup guide for your device. If nothing helps, message our support team with a screenshot of your speed test and we'll take a look.