Live Streaming Bandwidth calculator
Live Streaming Bandwidth calculator
Estimate your live streaming bandwidth and total data consumption instantly. Plan the perfect network setup for a reliable, high-quality production
*Values are estimates. Actual bandwidth may vary based on encoder settings and platform requirements.
*Values are estimates. Actual bandwidth may vary based on encoder settings and platform requirements.
Understanding your results
Upload Speed:
This is the minimum sustained upload bandwidth your internet connection needs to handle your stream without buffering or quality degradation.
We recommend having at least 50% more bandwidth available than the calculated requirement to account for network fluctuations and overhead.
Total Data:
Shows the total data consumption for your entire stream. Critical for planning cellular data costs and avoiding surprise overage charges or throttling on capped connections.
Streaming on cellular? Reach out to sales@mrnet.us for Prepaid Data Plans that save you money rates drop to $7/GB with our 1TB package.
Pro tip:
If you're streaming from a location with unreliable internet - like trade shows, outdoor events, or mobile productions - consider cellular bonding technology that aggregates multiple independent networks.
This gives you the upload speed you need plus automatic failover if one connection drops.
Why bandwidth matters for Live Streaming
Why bandwidth matters for Live Streaming
Your internet connection is the backbone of every successful live stream. Whether you're broadcasting a corporate event to Facebook, streaming gameplay on Twitch, or producing professional content for YouTube, insufficient upload speed means dropped frames, buffering viewers, and a compromised broadcast.
This calculator helps you determine the exact upload speed and total data consumption you'll need based on your streaming setup - resolution, frame rate, number of cameras, stream duration, and redundancy requirements. Use it to plan your network infrastructure before going live, not after problems start.
Key factors that affect your bandwidth
The calculator provides estimated values based on industry-standard encoder settings. Your actual bandwidth may vary depending on your specific encoder configuration and the platform's requirements.
Resolution and frame rate
4K at 60fps requires significantly more bandwidth than 720p at 30fps
Resolution and frame rate
4K at 60fps requires significantly more bandwidth than 720p at 30fps
Resolution and frame rate
4K at 60fps requires significantly more bandwidth than 720p at 30fps
Number of simultaneous streams
Multiple camera angles or platform destinations multiply your requirements
Number of simultaneous streams
Multiple camera angles or platform destinations multiply your requirements
Number of simultaneous streams
Multiple camera angles or platform destinations multiply your requirements
Redundancy mode
Backup streams ensure reliability but double your bandwidth needs
Redundancy mode
Backup streams ensure reliability but double your bandwidth needs
Redundancy mode
Backup streams ensure reliability but double your bandwidth needs
Encoder settings
Different codecs and bitrate settings impact data consumption
Encoder settings
Different codecs and bitrate settings impact data consumption
Encoder settings
Different codecs and bitrate settings impact data consumption
Got a question?
We've got answers.
How much upload speed and data usage do you need for successful live streaming?
The upload speed you need depends on five main factors: streaming resolution, frame rate, number of cameras, stream duration, and whether you're running backup streams. Basic requirements by resolution: 720p at 30fps: 3-5 Mbps upload speed, approximately 1.4-2.3 GB per hour 1080p at 30fps: 4-6 Mbps upload speed, approximately 1.8-2.7 GB per hour 1080p at 60fps: 6-9 Mbps upload speed, approximately 2.7-4 GB per hour 4K at 30fps: 15-30 Mbps upload speed, approximately 6.8-13.5 GB per hour These numbers are for a single camera stream. If you're running multiple cameras or streaming to multiple platforms simultaneously, multiply accordingly.
What is redundancy considerations and why it matters?
Professional productions typically run a backup stream in case the primary fails. This doubles your bandwidth requirements but protects against stream interruptions. The calculator accounts for this when you select a redundancy mode. Real-world examples: - A 3-hour trade show booth stream at 1080p with no backup needs roughly 6 Mbps upload and will consume about 8 GB of data - A 4-camera live sports production at 1080p/60fps with redundancy requires approximately 54 Mbps upload and uses 96 GB for a 4-hour event - A single 4K stream with backup for a 2-hour corporate event needs 45 Mbps upload and consumes around 40 GB Important: These are sustained upload requirements. Your connection needs to maintain these speeds consistently throughout the entire stream. Brief speed drops cause buffering, frozen frames, and viewer drop-off. If you're streaming from locations with questionable internet - convention centers, remote sites, or mobile productions - cellular bonding technology combines multiple carrier connections (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) into a single high-bandwidth, zero-downtime link. This gives you both the speed and reliability you need.
What's the difference between upload speed and download speed?
Upload speed is how fast you send data from your device to the internet. Download speed is how fast you receive data. Most internet connections have much faster download than upload speeds - a typical home connection might have 100 Mbps download but only 10 Mbps upload. For live streaming, only upload speed matters. You're sending video data to the streaming platform, not downloading it. Check your upload speed specifically - many speed tests show download speed prominently but bury upload speeds in smaller text.
How can I test if my current connection has enough upload speed?
Run a speed test from the exact location where you'll be streaming, using the same equipment and at the same time of day. Services like Speedtest.net or Fast.com will show your upload speed. Make sure you have at least 50% more upload bandwidth than your calculated requirement to handle network fluctuations. Testing is especially important for venue internet at hotels, convention centers, or event spaces. Advertised speeds often don't match reality, and shared connections slow down when multiple users are online. Test during peak hours if possible.
What happens if I don't have enough upload bandwidth?
Insufficient upload speed causes immediate quality problems: dropped frames, pixelation, buffering for viewers, and potentially complete stream failure. Your encoder will struggle to send data fast enough, resulting in choppy video that frustrates viewers and damages your professional reputation. If you're mid-stream when bandwidth drops, most encoders will automatically lower the bitrate to maintain the connection - meaning your video quality degrades live on air. There's no warning, and you can't recover the lost quality without stopping and restarting the stream.
Can I stream at a lower bitrate to save bandwidth?
Yes, but with trade-offs. Lowering your bitrate reduces upload speed requirements and data consumption, but also degrades video quality. Fast-moving content (sports, action footage) becomes pixelated at low bitrates. Static shots (presentations, talking heads) look acceptable at lower bitrates. Most encoders let you customize bitrate settings. Going below platform recommendations risks poor quality. Going above them won't necessarily improve quality and wastes bandwidth.
How does streaming to multiple platforms simultaneously affect bandwidth?
Each platform destination requires a separate stream, so bandwidth multiplies. Streaming to both YouTube and Facebook simultaneously doubles your upload requirement. Streaming to three platforms triples it. Alternative: Use a restreaming service like Restream or StreamYard that accepts one stream from you and distributes it to multiple platforms. This keeps your bandwidth requirement to a single stream, though you'll pay for the restreaming service.
Does the calculator account for overhead and network fluctuations?
The calculator shows the bandwidth your stream will consume based on your bitrate settings. In practice, you should have 50-100% more upload capacity available to handle: - Network protocol overhead (TCP/IP headers, etc.) - Temporary speed fluctuations - Other network traffic on the same connection - Peak usage times Professional productions plan for 2x the calculated bandwidth requirement. If the calculator says you need 10 Mbps, secure a connection capable of 20 Mbps sustained upload.
What's the best internet connection type for reliable live streaming?
- Wired fiber or cable connections offer the most consistent upload speeds - if available at your location and properly configured. Problem: You're tied to a physical location, and venue internet is often shared, slow, or unreliable. - Cellular bonding combines multiple cellular networks (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) into a single aggregated connection with automatic failover. If one network slows or fails, the others maintain your stream. This is ideal for mobile productions, outdoor events, trade shows, or any location where wired internet is unavailable or untrusted. - Standard cellular hotspots or single-carrier solutions work for low-resolution streams in areas with strong coverage, but lack redundancy. One network issue kills your stream. - Satellite internet has high latency that interferes with interactive streaming and can be disrupted by weather. Use only as a last resort. For mission-critical streams where failure isn't an option - live events, professional broadcasts, emergency communications - cellular bonding with multi-carrier redundancy is the most reliable solution.
How much does cellular data cost for live streaming?
Data costs vary by carrier and plan. A typical 1080p stream at 5 Mbps consumes about 2.25 GB per hour. If you're streaming a 4-hour event, that's 9 GB of data. Running a backup stream doubles it to 18 GB. With MR·NET's cellular bonding service, data is included in enterprise plans with no throttling or caps, and traffic is distributed across three carrier networks automatically. This eliminates data overage charges and ensures you never hit a carrier's throttling limit mid-stream.
What resolution should I stream at?
Choose based on your content type and audience expectations: - 720p (30fps): Acceptable for casual streams, presentations, webinars, or when bandwidth is limited. Lower data costs and bandwidth requirements. Viewers on mobile devices won't notice the difference. - 1080p (30fps): Industry standard for most professional content. Good balance between quality and bandwidth. Recommended minimum for corporate events, conferences, and professional broadcasts. - 1080p (60fps): Best for fast-moving content like sports, gaming, or action footage. The higher frame rate makes motion smoother but doubles bandwidth over 30fps. - 4K: Premium quality for high-end productions. Requires significant bandwidth and viewing devices capable of 4K playback (most viewers still watch on 1080p screens). Only worthwhile if your audience has 4K displays and fast internet, and your production justifies the cost. Start with 1080p/30fps for most applications. Test your connection first. Upgrade to higher resolutions only if bandwidth allows and content benefits from it.
How much does cellular data cost for live streaming?
Data costs vary by carrier and plan. A typical 1080p stream at 5 Mbps consumes about 2.25 GB per hour. If you're streaming a 4-hour event, that's 9 GB of data. Running a backup stream doubles it to 18 GB. MR·NET data pricing. We offer two flexible options for cellular bonding data: Pay-as-you-go: $8/GB for our top-tier enterprise SIMs with no contracts or commitments. Your traffic is automatically distributed across Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile networks with no throttling or caps. Pay only for what you use—ideal if your streaming schedule varies or you need occasional high-reliability connectivity. Prepaid data packages: Purchase data in advance at better rates. Packages range from 100 GB to 1 TB: - 100 GB: $7.50/GB - 500 GB: $7.25/GB - 1,000 GB (1 TB): $7.00/GB All prepaid packages are valid for 3 years from purchase date, so you can use them across multiple events and productions without worrying about expiration. Buy when you need capacity, use when you're ready. Example costs: - 4-hour event at 1080p with backup stream (18 GB): $144 pay-as-you-go, or $126 with prepaid 1TB package - Full-day 8-hour production at 1080p with backup (36 GB): $288 pay-as-you-go, or $252 with prepaid 1TB package - Multiple events throughout the year (200 GB total): $1,600 pay-as-you-go, or $1,400 with prepaid packages Unlike traditional cellular plans that throttle after certain limits or charge overage fees, MR·NET distributes your traffic across three carrier networks automatically. This means you never hit a single carrier's throttling limit mid-stream, and there are no surprise charges.
What industries and use cases is MR·NET designed for?
MR·NET serves businesses that can't afford internet downtime: 1) Live video streaming - Broadcast events, news, and sports without buffering or dropped streams 2) Trade shows & events - Temporary high-bandwidth internet for exhibitors and vendors 3) Public transportation - Reliable Wi-Fi for buses, trains, and fleet vehicles 4) IoT & industrial - Always-on connectivity for sensors, surveillance, and remote monitoring 5) Retail & hospitality - Failover protection for POS systems and guest Wi-Fi across multiple locations 6) Emergency services - Portable, resilient connectivity for first responders and disaster recovery 7) Construction & remote sites - Internet access where wired connections aren't available If your operations depend on consistent internet access - whether stationary, mobile, or temporary - MR·NET is built for you.
How much upload speed and data usage do you need for successful live streaming?
The upload speed you need depends on five main factors: streaming resolution, frame rate, number of cameras, stream duration, and whether you're running backup streams. Basic requirements by resolution: 720p at 30fps: 3-5 Mbps upload speed, approximately 1.4-2.3 GB per hour 1080p at 30fps: 4-6 Mbps upload speed, approximately 1.8-2.7 GB per hour 1080p at 60fps: 6-9 Mbps upload speed, approximately 2.7-4 GB per hour 4K at 30fps: 15-30 Mbps upload speed, approximately 6.8-13.5 GB per hour These numbers are for a single camera stream. If you're running multiple cameras or streaming to multiple platforms simultaneously, multiply accordingly.
What is redundancy considerations and why it matters?
Professional productions typically run a backup stream in case the primary fails. This doubles your bandwidth requirements but protects against stream interruptions. The calculator accounts for this when you select a redundancy mode. Real-world examples: - A 3-hour trade show booth stream at 1080p with no backup needs roughly 6 Mbps upload and will consume about 8 GB of data - A 4-camera live sports production at 1080p/60fps with redundancy requires approximately 54 Mbps upload and uses 96 GB for a 4-hour event - A single 4K stream with backup for a 2-hour corporate event needs 45 Mbps upload and consumes around 40 GB Important: These are sustained upload requirements. Your connection needs to maintain these speeds consistently throughout the entire stream. Brief speed drops cause buffering, frozen frames, and viewer drop-off. If you're streaming from locations with questionable internet - convention centers, remote sites, or mobile productions - cellular bonding technology combines multiple carrier connections (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) into a single high-bandwidth, zero-downtime link. This gives you both the speed and reliability you need.
What's the difference between upload speed and download speed?
Upload speed is how fast you send data from your device to the internet. Download speed is how fast you receive data. Most internet connections have much faster download than upload speeds - a typical home connection might have 100 Mbps download but only 10 Mbps upload. For live streaming, only upload speed matters. You're sending video data to the streaming platform, not downloading it. Check your upload speed specifically - many speed tests show download speed prominently but bury upload speeds in smaller text.
How can I test if my current connection has enough upload speed?
Run a speed test from the exact location where you'll be streaming, using the same equipment and at the same time of day. Services like Speedtest.net or Fast.com will show your upload speed. Make sure you have at least 50% more upload bandwidth than your calculated requirement to handle network fluctuations. Testing is especially important for venue internet at hotels, convention centers, or event spaces. Advertised speeds often don't match reality, and shared connections slow down when multiple users are online. Test during peak hours if possible.
What happens if I don't have enough upload bandwidth?
Insufficient upload speed causes immediate quality problems: dropped frames, pixelation, buffering for viewers, and potentially complete stream failure. Your encoder will struggle to send data fast enough, resulting in choppy video that frustrates viewers and damages your professional reputation. If you're mid-stream when bandwidth drops, most encoders will automatically lower the bitrate to maintain the connection - meaning your video quality degrades live on air. There's no warning, and you can't recover the lost quality without stopping and restarting the stream.
Can I stream at a lower bitrate to save bandwidth?
Yes, but with trade-offs. Lowering your bitrate reduces upload speed requirements and data consumption, but also degrades video quality. Fast-moving content (sports, action footage) becomes pixelated at low bitrates. Static shots (presentations, talking heads) look acceptable at lower bitrates. Most encoders let you customize bitrate settings. Going below platform recommendations risks poor quality. Going above them won't necessarily improve quality and wastes bandwidth.
How does streaming to multiple platforms simultaneously affect bandwidth?
Each platform destination requires a separate stream, so bandwidth multiplies. Streaming to both YouTube and Facebook simultaneously doubles your upload requirement. Streaming to three platforms triples it. Alternative: Use a restreaming service like Restream or StreamYard that accepts one stream from you and distributes it to multiple platforms. This keeps your bandwidth requirement to a single stream, though you'll pay for the restreaming service.
Does the calculator account for overhead and network fluctuations?
The calculator shows the bandwidth your stream will consume based on your bitrate settings. In practice, you should have 50-100% more upload capacity available to handle: - Network protocol overhead (TCP/IP headers, etc.) - Temporary speed fluctuations - Other network traffic on the same connection - Peak usage times Professional productions plan for 2x the calculated bandwidth requirement. If the calculator says you need 10 Mbps, secure a connection capable of 20 Mbps sustained upload.
What's the best internet connection type for reliable live streaming?
- Wired fiber or cable connections offer the most consistent upload speeds - if available at your location and properly configured. Problem: You're tied to a physical location, and venue internet is often shared, slow, or unreliable. - Cellular bonding combines multiple cellular networks (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) into a single aggregated connection with automatic failover. If one network slows or fails, the others maintain your stream. This is ideal for mobile productions, outdoor events, trade shows, or any location where wired internet is unavailable or untrusted. - Standard cellular hotspots or single-carrier solutions work for low-resolution streams in areas with strong coverage, but lack redundancy. One network issue kills your stream. - Satellite internet has high latency that interferes with interactive streaming and can be disrupted by weather. Use only as a last resort. For mission-critical streams where failure isn't an option - live events, professional broadcasts, emergency communications - cellular bonding with multi-carrier redundancy is the most reliable solution.
How much does cellular data cost for live streaming?
Data costs vary by carrier and plan. A typical 1080p stream at 5 Mbps consumes about 2.25 GB per hour. If you're streaming a 4-hour event, that's 9 GB of data. Running a backup stream doubles it to 18 GB. With MR·NET's cellular bonding service, data is included in enterprise plans with no throttling or caps, and traffic is distributed across three carrier networks automatically. This eliminates data overage charges and ensures you never hit a carrier's throttling limit mid-stream.
What resolution should I stream at?
Choose based on your content type and audience expectations: - 720p (30fps): Acceptable for casual streams, presentations, webinars, or when bandwidth is limited. Lower data costs and bandwidth requirements. Viewers on mobile devices won't notice the difference. - 1080p (30fps): Industry standard for most professional content. Good balance between quality and bandwidth. Recommended minimum for corporate events, conferences, and professional broadcasts. - 1080p (60fps): Best for fast-moving content like sports, gaming, or action footage. The higher frame rate makes motion smoother but doubles bandwidth over 30fps. - 4K: Premium quality for high-end productions. Requires significant bandwidth and viewing devices capable of 4K playback (most viewers still watch on 1080p screens). Only worthwhile if your audience has 4K displays and fast internet, and your production justifies the cost. Start with 1080p/30fps for most applications. Test your connection first. Upgrade to higher resolutions only if bandwidth allows and content benefits from it.
How much does cellular data cost for live streaming?
Data costs vary by carrier and plan. A typical 1080p stream at 5 Mbps consumes about 2.25 GB per hour. If you're streaming a 4-hour event, that's 9 GB of data. Running a backup stream doubles it to 18 GB. MR·NET data pricing. We offer two flexible options for cellular bonding data: Pay-as-you-go: $8/GB for our top-tier enterprise SIMs with no contracts or commitments. Your traffic is automatically distributed across Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile networks with no throttling or caps. Pay only for what you use—ideal if your streaming schedule varies or you need occasional high-reliability connectivity. Prepaid data packages: Purchase data in advance at better rates. Packages range from 100 GB to 1 TB: - 100 GB: $7.50/GB - 500 GB: $7.25/GB - 1,000 GB (1 TB): $7.00/GB All prepaid packages are valid for 3 years from purchase date, so you can use them across multiple events and productions without worrying about expiration. Buy when you need capacity, use when you're ready. Example costs: - 4-hour event at 1080p with backup stream (18 GB): $144 pay-as-you-go, or $126 with prepaid 1TB package - Full-day 8-hour production at 1080p with backup (36 GB): $288 pay-as-you-go, or $252 with prepaid 1TB package - Multiple events throughout the year (200 GB total): $1,600 pay-as-you-go, or $1,400 with prepaid packages Unlike traditional cellular plans that throttle after certain limits or charge overage fees, MR·NET distributes your traffic across three carrier networks automatically. This means you never hit a single carrier's throttling limit mid-stream, and there are no surprise charges.
What industries and use cases is MR·NET designed for?
MR·NET serves businesses that can't afford internet downtime: 1) Live video streaming - Broadcast events, news, and sports without buffering or dropped streams 2) Trade shows & events - Temporary high-bandwidth internet for exhibitors and vendors 3) Public transportation - Reliable Wi-Fi for buses, trains, and fleet vehicles 4) IoT & industrial - Always-on connectivity for sensors, surveillance, and remote monitoring 5) Retail & hospitality - Failover protection for POS systems and guest Wi-Fi across multiple locations 6) Emergency services - Portable, resilient connectivity for first responders and disaster recovery 7) Construction & remote sites - Internet access where wired connections aren't available If your operations depend on consistent internet access - whether stationary, mobile, or temporary - MR·NET is built for you.
How much upload speed and data usage do you need for successful live streaming?
The upload speed you need depends on five main factors: streaming resolution, frame rate, number of cameras, stream duration, and whether you're running backup streams. Basic requirements by resolution: 720p at 30fps: 3-5 Mbps upload speed, approximately 1.4-2.3 GB per hour 1080p at 30fps: 4-6 Mbps upload speed, approximately 1.8-2.7 GB per hour 1080p at 60fps: 6-9 Mbps upload speed, approximately 2.7-4 GB per hour 4K at 30fps: 15-30 Mbps upload speed, approximately 6.8-13.5 GB per hour These numbers are for a single camera stream. If you're running multiple cameras or streaming to multiple platforms simultaneously, multiply accordingly.
What is redundancy considerations and why it matters?
Professional productions typically run a backup stream in case the primary fails. This doubles your bandwidth requirements but protects against stream interruptions. The calculator accounts for this when you select a redundancy mode. Real-world examples: - A 3-hour trade show booth stream at 1080p with no backup needs roughly 6 Mbps upload and will consume about 8 GB of data - A 4-camera live sports production at 1080p/60fps with redundancy requires approximately 54 Mbps upload and uses 96 GB for a 4-hour event - A single 4K stream with backup for a 2-hour corporate event needs 45 Mbps upload and consumes around 40 GB Important: These are sustained upload requirements. Your connection needs to maintain these speeds consistently throughout the entire stream. Brief speed drops cause buffering, frozen frames, and viewer drop-off. If you're streaming from locations with questionable internet - convention centers, remote sites, or mobile productions - cellular bonding technology combines multiple carrier connections (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) into a single high-bandwidth, zero-downtime link. This gives you both the speed and reliability you need.
What's the difference between upload speed and download speed?
Upload speed is how fast you send data from your device to the internet. Download speed is how fast you receive data. Most internet connections have much faster download than upload speeds - a typical home connection might have 100 Mbps download but only 10 Mbps upload. For live streaming, only upload speed matters. You're sending video data to the streaming platform, not downloading it. Check your upload speed specifically - many speed tests show download speed prominently but bury upload speeds in smaller text.
How can I test if my current connection has enough upload speed?
Run a speed test from the exact location where you'll be streaming, using the same equipment and at the same time of day. Services like Speedtest.net or Fast.com will show your upload speed. Make sure you have at least 50% more upload bandwidth than your calculated requirement to handle network fluctuations. Testing is especially important for venue internet at hotels, convention centers, or event spaces. Advertised speeds often don't match reality, and shared connections slow down when multiple users are online. Test during peak hours if possible.
What happens if I don't have enough upload bandwidth?
Insufficient upload speed causes immediate quality problems: dropped frames, pixelation, buffering for viewers, and potentially complete stream failure. Your encoder will struggle to send data fast enough, resulting in choppy video that frustrates viewers and damages your professional reputation. If you're mid-stream when bandwidth drops, most encoders will automatically lower the bitrate to maintain the connection - meaning your video quality degrades live on air. There's no warning, and you can't recover the lost quality without stopping and restarting the stream.
Can I stream at a lower bitrate to save bandwidth?
Yes, but with trade-offs. Lowering your bitrate reduces upload speed requirements and data consumption, but also degrades video quality. Fast-moving content (sports, action footage) becomes pixelated at low bitrates. Static shots (presentations, talking heads) look acceptable at lower bitrates. Most encoders let you customize bitrate settings. Going below platform recommendations risks poor quality. Going above them won't necessarily improve quality and wastes bandwidth.
How does streaming to multiple platforms simultaneously affect bandwidth?
Each platform destination requires a separate stream, so bandwidth multiplies. Streaming to both YouTube and Facebook simultaneously doubles your upload requirement. Streaming to three platforms triples it. Alternative: Use a restreaming service like Restream or StreamYard that accepts one stream from you and distributes it to multiple platforms. This keeps your bandwidth requirement to a single stream, though you'll pay for the restreaming service.
Does the calculator account for overhead and network fluctuations?
The calculator shows the bandwidth your stream will consume based on your bitrate settings. In practice, you should have 50-100% more upload capacity available to handle: - Network protocol overhead (TCP/IP headers, etc.) - Temporary speed fluctuations - Other network traffic on the same connection - Peak usage times Professional productions plan for 2x the calculated bandwidth requirement. If the calculator says you need 10 Mbps, secure a connection capable of 20 Mbps sustained upload.
What's the best internet connection type for reliable live streaming?
- Wired fiber or cable connections offer the most consistent upload speeds - if available at your location and properly configured. Problem: You're tied to a physical location, and venue internet is often shared, slow, or unreliable. - Cellular bonding combines multiple cellular networks (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) into a single aggregated connection with automatic failover. If one network slows or fails, the others maintain your stream. This is ideal for mobile productions, outdoor events, trade shows, or any location where wired internet is unavailable or untrusted. - Standard cellular hotspots or single-carrier solutions work for low-resolution streams in areas with strong coverage, but lack redundancy. One network issue kills your stream. - Satellite internet has high latency that interferes with interactive streaming and can be disrupted by weather. Use only as a last resort. For mission-critical streams where failure isn't an option - live events, professional broadcasts, emergency communications - cellular bonding with multi-carrier redundancy is the most reliable solution.
How much does cellular data cost for live streaming?
Data costs vary by carrier and plan. A typical 1080p stream at 5 Mbps consumes about 2.25 GB per hour. If you're streaming a 4-hour event, that's 9 GB of data. Running a backup stream doubles it to 18 GB. With MR·NET's cellular bonding service, data is included in enterprise plans with no throttling or caps, and traffic is distributed across three carrier networks automatically. This eliminates data overage charges and ensures you never hit a carrier's throttling limit mid-stream.
What resolution should I stream at?
Choose based on your content type and audience expectations: - 720p (30fps): Acceptable for casual streams, presentations, webinars, or when bandwidth is limited. Lower data costs and bandwidth requirements. Viewers on mobile devices won't notice the difference. - 1080p (30fps): Industry standard for most professional content. Good balance between quality and bandwidth. Recommended minimum for corporate events, conferences, and professional broadcasts. - 1080p (60fps): Best for fast-moving content like sports, gaming, or action footage. The higher frame rate makes motion smoother but doubles bandwidth over 30fps. - 4K: Premium quality for high-end productions. Requires significant bandwidth and viewing devices capable of 4K playback (most viewers still watch on 1080p screens). Only worthwhile if your audience has 4K displays and fast internet, and your production justifies the cost. Start with 1080p/30fps for most applications. Test your connection first. Upgrade to higher resolutions only if bandwidth allows and content benefits from it.
How much does cellular data cost for live streaming?
Data costs vary by carrier and plan. A typical 1080p stream at 5 Mbps consumes about 2.25 GB per hour. If you're streaming a 4-hour event, that's 9 GB of data. Running a backup stream doubles it to 18 GB. MR·NET data pricing. We offer two flexible options for cellular bonding data: Pay-as-you-go: $8/GB for our top-tier enterprise SIMs with no contracts or commitments. Your traffic is automatically distributed across Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile networks with no throttling or caps. Pay only for what you use—ideal if your streaming schedule varies or you need occasional high-reliability connectivity. Prepaid data packages: Purchase data in advance at better rates. Packages range from 100 GB to 1 TB: - 100 GB: $7.50/GB - 500 GB: $7.25/GB - 1,000 GB (1 TB): $7.00/GB All prepaid packages are valid for 3 years from purchase date, so you can use them across multiple events and productions without worrying about expiration. Buy when you need capacity, use when you're ready. Example costs: - 4-hour event at 1080p with backup stream (18 GB): $144 pay-as-you-go, or $126 with prepaid 1TB package - Full-day 8-hour production at 1080p with backup (36 GB): $288 pay-as-you-go, or $252 with prepaid 1TB package - Multiple events throughout the year (200 GB total): $1,600 pay-as-you-go, or $1,400 with prepaid packages Unlike traditional cellular plans that throttle after certain limits or charge overage fees, MR·NET distributes your traffic across three carrier networks automatically. This means you never hit a single carrier's throttling limit mid-stream, and there are no surprise charges.
What industries and use cases is MR·NET designed for?
MR·NET serves businesses that can't afford internet downtime: 1) Live video streaming - Broadcast events, news, and sports without buffering or dropped streams 2) Trade shows & events - Temporary high-bandwidth internet for exhibitors and vendors 3) Public transportation - Reliable Wi-Fi for buses, trains, and fleet vehicles 4) IoT & industrial - Always-on connectivity for sensors, surveillance, and remote monitoring 5) Retail & hospitality - Failover protection for POS systems and guest Wi-Fi across multiple locations 6) Emergency services - Portable, resilient connectivity for first responders and disaster recovery 7) Construction & remote sites - Internet access where wired connections aren't available If your operations depend on consistent internet access - whether stationary, mobile, or temporary - MR·NET is built for you.