Data and Bandwidth Requirements for Zoom Video Conferencing
More people are working remotely now more than ever due to COVID-19, and many of these people are required to have a good Internet connection to collaborate with their peers over a video conferencing application.
Zoom video conferencing is currently one of the most popular conferencing applications and it allows you to connect with voice only (VoIP) or voice with video. Zoom’s website has this to say about bandwidth requirements:
The bandwidth used by Zoom will be optimized for the best experience based on the participants’ network. It will automatically adjust for 3G, WiFi or Wired environments.
Recommended bandwidth for meetings and webinar panelists:
For 1:1 video calling:
- 600kbps (up/down) for high quality video
- 1.2 Mbps (up/down) for 720p HD video
- Receiving 1080p HD video requires 1.8 Mbps (up/down)
- Sending 1080p HD video requires 1.8 Mbps (up/down)
For group video calling:
- 800kbps/1.0Mbps (up/down) for high quality video
- For gallery view and/or 720p HD video: 1.5Mbps/1.5Mbps (up/down)
- Receiving 1080p HD video requires 2.5mbps (up/down)
- Sending 1080p HD video requires 3.0 Mbps (up/down)
- For screen sharing only (no video thumbnail): 50-75kbps
- For screen sharing with video thumbnail: 50-150kbps
- For audio VoIP: 60-80kbps
- For Zoom Phone: 60-100kbps
Recommended bandwidth for webinar attendees:
- For 1:1 video calling: 600kbps (down) for high quality video and 1.2 Mbps (down) for HD video
- For screen sharing only (no video thumbnail): 50-75kbps (down)
- For screen sharing with video thumbnail: 50-150kbps (down)
- For audio VoIP: 60-80kbps (down)
Just recently, Zoom posted this announcement on their user profile page:
“To preserve internet bandwidth and ensure that we are making the best use of global networks, you may experience intermittent availability of HD video during Zoom Meetings with 3 or more participants hosted on your desktop or mobile device. Standard video capabilities will remain in place. If you are joining using a Zoom Room or Conference Room Connector, HD video will remain enabled.”
These requirements are for running Zoom only, and do not include other applications and devices that you may be using while in your meeting.
