Speed tests tell you a peak number; a TV stream needs a steady one. Providers state what each stream requires, and from those figures you can work out what your household needs. This post collects the numbers from Zattoo, Netflix and Swisscom (state: October 2026), shows the arithmetic and gives three worked examples.
01
Internet speed for TV streaming: what each quality needs
The providers measure slightly differently: Zattoo states the minimum per stream, Netflix a recommended speed. Together they give the range:
| Quality | Zattoo, per stream | Netflix, recommended | Swisscom blue TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD | 3 Mbit/s | – | – |
| HD (720p) | 5 Mbit/s | 3 Mbps | – |
| Full HD (1080p) | 8 Mbit/s | 5 Mbps | – |
| UHD / 4K | – | 15 Mbps | At least 40 Mbit/s of connection and a UHD-ready TV |
| Laptop or phone app | – | – | 0.5 Mbit/s minimum, 5 Mbit/s for the best picture |
02
From Mbit/s to gigabytes per hour
A stream's speed also tells you how much data it uses. One Mbit/s is 0.45 gigabytes per hour (the speed times 3,600 seconds, divided by 8 bits per byte and by 1,000), so SD at 3 Mbit/s uses about 1.35 GB an hour, HD at 5 about 2.25 GB, Full HD at 8 about 3.6 GB and 4K at 15 about 6.75 GB. That matters on a mobile plan with a data limit, and it explains why a family of four can fill a home line.
03
What Zattoo advises for the whole household
Zattoo does not only quote the per-stream figure. Because a household rarely uses the internet for one thing, its support page recommends a larger connection: 16 to 30 Mbit/s for Zattoo Free (one SD stream plus normal use), 30 to 50 Mbit/s for Premium (up to two HD streams) and 50 to 100 Mbit/s for Ultimate (up to four Full HD streams). The same page states 0.5 Mbit/s as the technical minimum.
04
Three worked examples
Add the streams that can run at the same time, then leave room for the rest of the household. As a rule of thumb, half as much again is a sensible margin:
| Household | Streams at once | Streams add up to | With a 50% margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| One person, one HD stream | 1 HD | 5 Mbit/s | 7.5 Mbit/s |
| Couple, two Full HD streams | 2 Full HD | 16 Mbit/s | 24 Mbit/s |
| Family, one 4K and two HD streams | 1 UHD + 2 HD | 25 Mbit/s | 37.5 Mbit/s |
05
4K and UHD: the higher bar
UHD needs more than a fast line. Swisscom's blue TV S page states two requirements, an internet speed of at least 40 Mbit/s and a UHD-ready TV, and adds that the content must be available in UHD; the devices it names are the TV-Box 5 and the Apple TV 4K. Which devices decode 4K is covered in IPTV box, stick or smart TV.
06
Stability counts more than peak speed
A line that tests at 100 Mbit/s at noon and drops in the evening still stutters. Streams react to dips, not averages. Test at the time you watch, use a network cable where you can and read fixing TV buffering if the picture still freezes.
07
How to measure what you have
Netflix points to Fast.com for checking the speed of a phone, tablet or computer, and Swisscom links a speed test from its TV help pages. Run it on the device that streams, at the time of day you watch, and compare the result with the sum of your streams.
08
Where to go next
See also Zattoo Free, Premium, Ultimate, Swisscom blue TV explained and Why live streams lag behind TV. For the whole picture, start from IPTV Switzerland: licensed providers compared.
Also useful: UHD and 4K TV and A second TV.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How many Mbit/s do I need for HD TV streaming?
About 5 Mbit/s per HD stream according to Zattoo, and Netflix recommends 3 Mbps for 720p and 5 Mbps for 1080p.
How much speed does 4K streaming need?
Netflix recommends 15 Mbps for 4K, and Swisscom asks for an internet speed of at least 40 Mbit/s for UHD on blue TV.
How much data does an hour of HD streaming use?
About 2.25 GB at 5 Mbit/s, calculated from the speed: one Mbit/s is 0.45 GB per hour.
Is Wi-Fi enough for TV streaming?
It can be, but a network cable is more stable, and both Sunrise and Zattoo recommend one for the TV.
Sources
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