Watching content in streaming has become in recent years the main way to consume content where and when we want. The quality offered by streaming platforms is much better than what we find, for example, in DTT . However, there are high bandwidth requirements to consume that content, especially if it is in 4K.
4K is increasingly present in the day to day. The original productions of platforms such as Netflix or Amazon can be seen in 4K and HDR , and on YouTube we also find more and more content in that resolution. The main problem is that the bitrate, depending on which connections, is too high.
The bitrate in 4K is not very high
For example, Netflix recommends watching 4K content with a minimum connection speed of 25 Mbps , which is consistent with what other platforms recommend. However, if we go to the real bitrate of that content, we can find figures that are between 15 and 20 Mbps for the content that Netflix sends by streaming to users. In real use, the 4K bitrate on Netflix can even go as low as 15 Mbps depending on the scene, which makes connection needs slightly lower.
However, although on paper a 15 Mbps connection may be sufficient, reality says that it is not. Most of the ADSL connections that are currently available are very slow, since those that are close to the exchanges, for the most part, have already switched to FTTH. The ADSL is for areas far from the centrals and nodes, so that the speeds that arrive in most cases are even lower than 10 Mbps .
But buffering requires more speed
Added to that is the fact that, even if you get 20 Mbps of ADSL2 + , a streaming always needs buffering . This buffering means that, in the event that there is any instability in the connection or the like, we are doomed to uncomfortable loading times when viewing these contents.
That is the reason why Netflix recommends at least 25 Mbps , since it is necessary that there be buffering to avoid that the streaming is cut off. In addition, in a normal situation, there are other devices using the Internet at home, and therefore the connection is even more susceptible to cuts.
Therefore, the answer is that, with ADSL, it is very difficult to stream 4K content without interruptions. That is the reason why, for example, operators force a fiber optic connection to offer channels and content in 4K. Therefore, the only stable way to be able to see that content in 4K is to download it to watch it offline, being able to leave it for example downloading all night and then be able to watch it comfortably the next day.