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CCTV Bandwidth Calculator

Size the network and internet upload a CCTV system needs to stream or offload its cameras continuously.

About CCTV Bandwidth Calculator

Concurrent sessions multiplied by per-session bitrate gives the aggregate demand; the overhead factor covers packet headers and retransmissions. Dividing by 8 converts bits per second into bytes to get the data volume. Sizing a link on average usage guarantees congestion at peak, and monthly data volume is what actually triggers a cap or an overage charge on a CCTV system.

Formula

CCTV Bandwidth

Bandwidth (Mbps) = Cameras streaming × Bitrate per camera × (1 + overhead)

Cameras streaming
Concurrent sessions
Bitrate per camera
Sustained bitrate of one session

Worked example

With the default values below, CCTV Bandwidth Calculator returns Required Bandwidth of 35.20. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Cameras streamingminimum 0
8
Bitrate per cameraminimum 0 Mbps
4 Mbps
Protocol overheadaccepts 0–100 %
10 %
Hours of use per dayaccepts 0–24 h
4 h

Results

Required Bandwidth
35.20 Mbps
Required Bandwidth
0.0352 Gbps
Data per Hour
15.84 GB
Data per Day
63.36 GB
Data per 30 Days
1,900.8 GB

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2CCTV Bandwidth
  3. 3Required Bandwidth= 35.20 Mbps
  4. 4Required Bandwidth= 0.0352 Gbps
  5. 5Data per Hour= 15.84 GB
  6. 6Data per Day= 63.36 GB
  7. 7Data per 30 Days= 1,900.8 GB

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is CCTV Bandwidth calculated?

Bandwidth (Mbps) = Cameras streaming × Bitrate per camera × (1 + overhead) Concurrent sessions multiplied by per-session bitrate gives the aggregate demand; the overhead factor covers packet headers and retransmissions. Dividing by 8 converts bits per second into bytes to get the data volume.

Why does CCTV Bandwidth matter?

Sizing a link on average usage guarantees congestion at peak, and monthly data volume is what actually triggers a cap or an overage charge on a CCTV system.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 4 inputs: Cameras streaming, Bitrate per camera, Protocol overhead, Hours of use per day. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.

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CCTV Bandwidth Calculator – Calculate Required Bandwidth