How much internet bandwidth do you really need to work remotely in UAE?
- Internet & Connectivity, Network, Remote Work
United Arab Emirates (UAE) boasts some of the fastest internet connections in the world, with an averagespeed of more than 100 Mbps. However, if your company has shifted to a Remote or Hybrid work setup, you should understand how crucial is to have enough internet bandwidth for remote workers.
How much bandwidth is “good enough”? And what’s the minimum bandwidth ideal for work-related tasks?
Let’s find out.
What is internet bandwidth?
Bandwidth is how much data your internet connection can transfer in a second. A higher bandwidth allows more data to be transferred at once. Most internet providers have different bandwidth limits for downloads and uploads.
Data transfer speed is calculated in megabytes per second (Mbps) or bytes per second (Bps), which indicates the maximum amount of data that can be sent through your home internet connection.
How much internet bandwidth is needed for remote work?
Several factors affect how much internet bandwidth you need to work remotely, like the type of job you have and which apps/programs you use.
Simple tasks such as checking your email, chatting online, or creating documents don’t use too much bandwidth. However, if your tasks require more complex processes, like video calling, then you’ll need higher bandwidth to complete them.
Below is a list of commonly used apps by remote workers, and the bandwidth required to use them effectively.
Microsoft Teams
No matter the condition of your internet connection, Teams guarantees the best audio, video, and content sharing experience. If you have insufficient bandwidth, Teams will prioritize audio quality over video quality.
This table details how much bandwidth Teams uses.
Bandwidth Requirement for Audio Only
Type of meeting | Minimum | Recommended | Optimum |
|---|---|---|---|
One-on-one | 10 Kbps/10 Kbps (up/down) | 58 Kbps/58 Kbps (up/down) | 76 Kbps/76 Kbps (up/down) |
Group | 1.2‒1.8 Mbps (down) | General Tso’s 58kbps/58kbps (up/down) | 76 Kbps/76 Kbps (up/down) |
Bandwidth Requirement for Video
Type of meeting | Minimum | Recommended | Optimum |
|---|---|---|---|
One-on-one | 150 Kbps/150 Kbps (up/down) | 1.5 Mbps/1.5 Mbps (up/down) | 4.0 Mbps/4.0 Mbps (up/down) |
Group | 150 Kbps/200 Kbps (up/down) | 2.5 Mbps/4.0 Mbps (up/down) | 4.0 Mbps/4.0 Mbps (up/down) |
Bandwidth Requirement for Screen sharing
Type of meeting | Minimum | Recommended | Optimum |
|---|---|---|---|
One-on-one | 200 Kbps/200 Kbps (up/down) | 1.5 Mbps/1.5 Mbps (up/down) | 4.0 Mbps/4.0 Mbps (up/down) |
Group | 250 Kbps/250 Kbps (up/down) | 2.5 Mbps/2.5 Mbps (up/down) | 4.0 Mbps/4.0 Mbps (up/down) |
Bandwidth Requirement for Together mode
Type of meeting | Minimum | Recommended | Optimum |
|---|---|---|---|
One-on-one | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Group | 1.0 Mbps/1.5 Mbps (up/down) | 1.5 Mbps/2.5 Mbps (up/down) | 2.5 Mbps/4.0 Mbps (up/down) |
Google Meet
Google Meet needs access to enough concurrent bandwidth for HD meetings, as well as supplemental bandwidth in order to support other needs, such as live streaming. If there isn’t enough bandwidth for a video conference, the app will automatically switch to audio-only mode.
Below are the minimum bandwidth requirements for Google Meet.
Average bandwidth requirement per participant
Type of meeting | Inbound | Outbound |
|---|---|---|
HD video conference | 1.6 Mbps | 2.2 Mbps |
Audio-only mode | 18 Kbps | 12 Kbps |
Average bandwidth requirements per live stream viewer
Type of meeting | Inbound | Outbound |
|---|---|---|
HD video conference | 1.6 Mbps | 2.2 Mbps |
Audio-only mode | 18 Kbps | 12 Kbps |
Bandwidth Requirement for Screen sharing
Video setting | Required inbound bandwidth |
|---|---|
720p | 2.6 Mbps |
480p | 1.5 Mbps |
360p | 1.0 Mbps |
240p | 0.5 Mbps |
Zoom
Zoom will adjust its bandwidth usage for the best experience possible based on the participant’s network, whether it be 3G, Wi-Fi, or wired. Here are the bandwidth requirements for different types of Zoom meetings.
1-on-1 video call
Video setting | Required bandwidth |
|---|---|
High-quality video | 600 Kbps (up/down) |
720p HD video | 1.2 Mbps (up/down) |
1080p HD video | 3.8 Mbps/3.0 Mbps (up/down) |
Group video call
Video setting | Required bandwidth |
|---|---|
High-quality video | 1.0M Bps/600 Kbps (up/down) |
720p HD video | 2.6 Mbps/1.8 Mbps (up/down) |
1080p HD video | 3.8 Mbps/3.0 Mbps (up/down) |
Gallery view receiving | 2.0 Mbps (25 views), 4.0 Mbps (49 views) |
Group video call
Video setting | Required bandwidth |
|---|---|
High-quality video | 600 Kbps (down) |
720p HD video | 1.2‒1.8 Mbps (down) |
1080p HD video | 2–3 Mbps (down) |
Remember these are individual numbers. When your users are working from Office and use different technologies, you may have to design the office network as well as home network with sufficient bandwidth and respective security controls. DWS Hybrid Work solutions can help you design the best employee experience while working remotely or at Office.
To find more about DWS solutions to optimize your remote / hybrid work, call us today.
