Most UK home broadband plans have unlimited data, so data use is rarely something you need to think about. It matters a great deal, though, if you watch on a phone away from Wi-Fi, use 4G or 5G home broadband, live somewhere with a capped connection, or share a connection with a lot of other streaming.
This guide explains roughly how much data IPTV uses, what affects it, and how to keep it under control.
How much data IPTV uses per hour
The amount of data a stream uses depends mainly on its bitrate: how much data is used each second to describe the picture. Higher resolutions and higher quality settings use more.
These are typical figures, in line with what major streaming services publish for their own video:
| Picture quality | Data used per hour (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Standard definition | around 0.7 to 1 GB |
| HD (720p) | around 1.5 to 2 GB |
| Full HD (1080p) | around 2 to 3 GB |
| 4K | around 7 GB or more |
Live channels, and especially live sport, can use more than on-demand films of the same resolution, because fast movement needs more data to keep the picture clear. Treat these figures as a guide rather than exact numbers.
What that means in practice
- A two-hour film in Full HD might use around 4 to 6 GB.
- An evening of four hours of HD TV might use around 8 to 12 GB.
- A 90-minute football match in 4K might use 10 GB or more.
What affects how much data you use
Resolution and quality setting
Higher resolutions need more data. Many player apps and some streams offer different quality levels, and choosing a lower one reduces data use.
The codec
Newer compression methods such as HEVC deliver similar quality using less data than older ones such as H.264. Most 4K streams use HEVC. Our guide to IPTV picture quality explains codecs in more detail.
What you watch
Fast-moving content such as sport needs more data than a slow-moving drama or a news programme.
How many screens are playing
Every screen playing at the same time uses its own data. Two people watching different channels in HD use roughly twice as much as one.
Buffering and channel hopping
Each time you change channel, the app downloads a few seconds of the new channel before playing. Constant channel hopping adds a little extra, but not much compared with watching.
IPTV on UK home broadband
Fixed broadband
Most fixed-line home broadband in the UK, including full fibre, fibre to the cabinet and cable, comes with unlimited data. If yours does, data use is not a concern, although your connection's speed and stability still matter. Our guide to broadband speed for IPTV covers what you need.
Some older or cheaper plans have had usage caps or fair use policies. If you are unsure, check your plan details or ask your provider.
4G and 5G home broadband
Home broadband delivered over the mobile network is popular in areas where fixed broadband is slow. Many of these plans are unlimited, but some have monthly allowances, and some slow down heavy users at busy times. If your plan has an allowance, a household that watches several hours of HD TV a day can use a large share of it.
Check your allowance and any fair use policy before relying on 4G or 5G home broadband for regular IPTV viewing.
IPTV on mobile data
Watching on a phone or tablet away from Wi-Fi is where data adds up fastest.
How far a mobile allowance goes
At around 1 GB an hour for standard definition and 2 to 3 GB an hour for Full HD, a 10 GB monthly allowance covers only a few hours of HD viewing. Unlimited mobile plans avoid the problem, but some apply fair use limits or reduce speeds after heavy use, so check yours.
Roaming
Many UK mobile networks now charge for using your allowance in Europe and elsewhere, and some limit how much you can use abroad. Check your network's roaming terms before streaming outside the UK, and be aware that channel availability can depend on where you are.
How to use less data
On your phone or tablet
- Lower the quality in the player app. A phone screen does not need Full HD for a good picture.
- Download over Wi-Fi where possible. If your app supports downloading on-demand content, do it at home.
- Use your phone's data saver mode, and check which apps are allowed to use mobile data in your phone's settings.
- Keep an eye on usage. Both iPhone and Android show how much mobile data each app has used.
At home
- Match the quality to the screen. A small TV in a bedroom does not need 4K.
- Turn off the stream when nobody is watching. A channel left playing on an empty room still uses data and a screen.
- Avoid streaming the same thing on two devices when everyone is in the same room.
How to check how much data you use
On home broadband
Most UK broadband providers show your usage in their app or online account, although on unlimited plans they may not show detail. Many routers also show usage in their settings page, which you open by typing the router's address, usually printed on a sticker on the router, into a web browser. Some routers can show usage per device, which tells you which TV or stick is using the most.
On a phone or tablet
- iPhone and iPad: Settings, then Mobile Data, lists data used by each app since the last reset.
- Android: Settings, then Network and internet or Connections, then Data usage, shows data used by each app, and lets you set a warning or a limit.
Set a warning at around three-quarters of your allowance so you notice before you run out.
On streaming sticks and smart TVs
Most TVs and streaming sticks do not show data use. If you need to track it, use your router or your broadband provider's app instead.
Choosing broadband for a household that streams a lot
If your household streams several hours a day, look for these when you choose or renew broadband:
- Unlimited data, with no fair use policy that slows heavy users at busy times.
- Enough speed for your busiest evening, worked out from the number of screens playing at once. Our speed checker helps with this.
- A stable connection type. Full fibre is the most consistent, but a good fibre to the cabinet or cable line is fine for most households.
- A router you can place well, or the option to add mesh Wi-Fi, so the TVs you use most get a strong signal.
Data use for different households
| Household | Typical evening | Rough data for that evening |
|---|---|---|
| One person, HD | 3 hours of one channel | 6 to 9 GB |
| Couple watching separately, HD | 3 hours each | 12 to 18 GB |
| Family, one 4K and two HD | 3 hours each | 33 GB or more |
| Phone viewing on the commute, SD | 1 hour | around 1 GB |
On unlimited home broadband these numbers do not matter. On a capped plan or mobile data, they show how quickly an allowance can go.
Data use and buffering are different problems
People sometimes confuse data use with buffering. Data use is how much information you download in total. Buffering happens when information does not arrive quickly or steadily enough. A plan with unlimited data can still buffer if your connection is slow or your Wi-Fi is weak. For buffering, see our guide to fixing IPTV buffering.
A quick worked example
Imagine a household of three on 4G home broadband with a 300 GB monthly allowance.
- In the evening, two people watch different channels in Full HD for three hours: around 6 hours of HD, or roughly 12 to 18 GB.
- At weekends, one 4K film of two hours: roughly 14 GB.
Over a 30-day month, the weekday evenings alone could come to several hundred gigabytes, close to or over the allowance before counting phones, laptops and game downloads. In that situation, watching in HD rather than 4K, or moving to an unlimited plan, would make sense.
Frequently asked questions
Does IPTV use more data than Netflix or other streaming apps?
At the same resolution and quality, the data use is broadly similar. Live sport can use more than on-demand drama because fast motion needs more data.
Does watching in 4K use much more data?
Yes. 4K typically uses two to three times as much data per hour as Full HD.
Does the programme guide use much data?
No. The guide is a small text file compared with video, so it uses very little.
Will IPTV use my data if the TV is off?
If the device and app are still running and playing a channel, yes. If you turn the TV off but leave the streaming stick playing, it may carry on downloading. Stop playback or put the device to sleep.
If you would like help choosing settings for your connection, contact us with your broadband type and the devices you use.
