CCTV cameras can use anything from a relatively small amount of bandwidth to a substantial, continuous internet connection. The difference depends on how many cameras you have, their resolution and frame rate, how footage is recorded, and whether video is being viewed or stored remotely.
For a business using CCTV over 4G, 5G, satellite or another limited connection, understanding that demand matters. It is particularly important to consider upload bandwidth: your cameras are sending footage away from the site, rather than simply downloading data from the internet.
How much bandwidth does a CCTV camera use?
There is no single bandwidth figure that applies to every CCTV camera. Usage changes considerably according to the way the camera and recording system are configured.
The main factors are:
- camera resolution, such as 1080p or 4K;
- frame rate;
- video compression and codec;
- bitrate settings;
- whether recording is continuous or motion-triggered;
- how many cameras are transmitting at once;
- whether footage is stored locally or in the cloud; and
- how frequently live or recorded footage is viewed remotely.
This is why simply counting the number of cameras is not enough to size an internet connection properly.
CCTV bandwidth is mainly an upload-speed problem
One of the most commonly overlooked parts of CCTV connectivity is the difference between download and upload speed.
If cameras send footage to cloud storage, a remote monitoring centre or another location, that traffic leaves the site using the connection’s upload capacity.
A connection advertised as fast because it has a high download speed may therefore still struggle with multiple cameras if its available upload capacity is much lower.
This becomes particularly important when CCTV shares a connection with other business systems such as video calls, VoIP, cloud applications, large file transfers or live streaming.
What affects how much data CCTV uses?
1. Resolution
Higher-resolution cameras capture more detail, but that additional information generally requires more data to transmit and store. A 4K camera can therefore place a significantly greater demand on a connection than a camera configured at a lower resolution.
2. Frame rate
Frame rate determines how many individual frames of video are captured each second. Increasing the frame rate can produce smoother footage, but also increases the amount of video data that needs to be processed and transmitted.
3. Video compression
Modern CCTV systems use video compression to reduce file sizes and bandwidth requirements. The codec and compression settings used by the system can therefore make a substantial difference to network demand.
4. Continuous vs motion-triggered recording
A camera continuously transmitting or uploading footage can use considerably more data than a system that records or uploads only when movement or another event is detected.
5. Local vs cloud recording
If footage is recorded to an NVR or other storage device on site, the cameras may generate substantial traffic across the local network without necessarily sending all of that video over the internet.
Cloud recording is different. If footage is continuously uploaded away from the site, the internet connection must have sufficient upstream capacity to carry that traffic.
How do you calculate CCTV bandwidth?
The most useful starting point is the configured bitrate of each camera rather than resolution alone.
For example, if several cameras are each configured to transmit at a particular bitrate, their combined requirement is approximately the sum of those simultaneous streams. You then need to allow additional capacity for other network traffic and changes in demand rather than sizing the connection to operate permanently at its theoretical limit.
For an accurate figure, check the bitrate settings or specification of the actual CCTV system and consider how many cameras will transmit simultaneously.
How much data does CCTV use per month?
Monthly data usage depends on the bitrate and how long footage is transmitted over the internet.
A useful way to think about it is:
Higher bitrate × more cameras × longer transmission time = greater data usage.
This means continuous cloud recording can consume a very different amount of data from a system that stores footage locally and only uses the internet for occasional remote viewing.
Businesses using a cellular or satellite connection should therefore establish whether their CCTV system continuously uploads footage before choosing a data allowance or connectivity solution.
Does remote viewing use more data?
Remote viewing requires video to be transmitted from the CCTV site to the person or monitoring system viewing it. The amount of bandwidth used depends on the stream being requested, its quality and how many cameras are being viewed simultaneously.
Occasionally checking one camera is very different from a security team continuously monitoring multiple high-quality feeds.
Can CCTV work over 4G or 5G?
Yes. CCTV can operate over 4G or 5G where there is suitable coverage and sufficient capacity for the required upload traffic.
This can be particularly useful at construction sites, temporary premises and remote locations where a fixed broadband connection is unavailable or has not yet been installed.
For more demanding installations, relying on one mobile connection may not provide the capacity or resilience required. Multiple connections can be bonded or combined with other technologies where appropriate.
Learn more about Bonded 5G connectivity.
Can CCTV work over satellite internet?
LEO satellite connectivity can also support CCTV at locations where fixed infrastructure is unavailable and suitable mobile connectivity cannot be obtained.
Whether satellite is appropriate depends on the CCTV system, required upload traffic, site conditions and the other applications sharing the connection.
Read more about LEO satellite internet.
CCTV bandwidth on construction sites
Construction sites are a particularly good example of why CCTV bandwidth needs to be considered as part of the wider network design.
A site connection may simultaneously support CCTV and remote monitoring, project-management platforms, BIM or CAD files, VoIP, video calls, site offices and welfare facilities.
Simply achieving a strong WiFi signal does not guarantee that the underlying internet connection has enough upload and download capacity for all of those systems during busy periods.
If you need connectivity for the wider site rather than advice about CCTV bandwidth alone, see our Construction Site Internet & WiFi service.
Should CCTV have a separate network?
For business and multi-system environments, separating CCTV traffic from general user traffic can make the network easier to manage and can help prevent high-bandwidth activity elsewhere on the network from affecting critical security systems.
The appropriate network design depends on the site and security requirements, but CCTV should be considered as a business-critical application rather than simply another device connected to guest or staff WiFi.
What internet connection does your CCTV system need?
Before choosing a connection for CCTV, establish:
- how many cameras will be connected;
- the bitrate and configuration of each camera;
- whether recording is local, cloud-based or both;
- whether footage is transmitted continuously;
- how much remote viewing will take place;
- what other systems share the internet connection;
- how important connectivity is to site security; and
- whether a backup or resilient connection is required.
Those answers give a much more useful picture than choosing a connection based solely on the advertised maximum download speed.
Need connectivity for CCTV at a site without fixed broadband?
Click Telecom provides managed business connectivity using 4G/5G, bonded connections, fixed wireless and LEO satellite technology. We can assess the wider site requirement, including CCTV upload demand and the other systems that need to share the connection.
For construction projects, visit our Construction Site Internet service. For short-term business requirements, see Temporary Business Internet & WiFi.
