What Internet Speed Is Required To Watch Live Stream?

Disney+Hotstar is streaming live Asia Cup 2023 matches in India. You can watch these matches for free if you are a user. The matches will be streamed in HD quality and therefore, you must check your data connection today! For watching live matches on your phone, you can use your regular 4G or 5G-enabled phones. However, to watch matches in premium HD quality, it is recommended to switch to your WiFi connection. The data limit will be quickly consumed if you continue to watch the live matches using mobile data plans. Also, if you prefer watching matches on a bigger screen, mobile data is not a good option. A WiFi connection that offers a high internet speed is sufficient to stream videos in HD quality. As per Hotstar, speeds up to 5 Mbps for mobiles and speeds up to 8 Mbps for TV are required to stream videos in 1080p. You can set the streaming quality to ‘Auto' to continue watching the videos without any lags. In reality, you may encounter some issues with the regular mobile data or WiFi connection. Through this article, we will share some insights on how to watch live matches on Hotstar without any issues.

Minimum Bandwidth Required to Stream Content on Hotstar

Disney+Hotstar is an OTT platform that offers access to unlimited entertainment options. If you are a premium user, you can watch live TV serials, web series, movies, documentaries, and much more. Hotstar will also be streaming live Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023 for free. So, many people are downloading its app on their mobile phones. You can set different video qualities while streaming content on Hotstar. If you are a premium user, you can also watch content in 4K quality. However, non-premium users can only stream live matches in 720p on their mobile phones. A bandwidth of at least 5 Mbps is required to watch videos, movies, and other content types from their library. Video-on-demand services can also be enjoyed at a similar internet speed. A network bandwidth of at least 25 Mbps is needed to watch videos in 4K quality. For live streams, a bandwidth of at least 8 Mbps is required. You can still watch live streams if the bandwidth is less. Yet, the video quality will be quite low in this case.

How to watch live cricket matches on Hotstar?

Hotstar is the official partner of Star Sports channels. So, you can watch all the live matches on this platform. All the Asia Cup matches are available for free live streaming if you are a mobile user. However, if you want to watch matches on a laptop or television, an active subscription will be needed. Follow the below steps to watch live matches on your mobile phone:

· Step 1: Go to the Google Play Store if you are using an Android phone. If you use an iPhone, you can go to the App Store.

· Step 2: Now, download the Disney+Hotstar app on your mobile phone.

· Step 3: Open the app and complete the basic registration steps. Subscribe to a premium plan if you are interested in viewing all types of content. For watching live cricket matches, you can continue as a non-premium user.

· Step 4: Go to the live sports section and start watching live matches for free!

Only premium users can watch the live matches on bigger screens like TV. With an active subscription, you also get access to paid content offered by Disney+Hotstar.

How to increase WiFi speed?

Slow WiFi speed can affect your TV-watching experience. If you are watching a live cricket match using a web browser, the webpage will buffer slowly or keep loading. As a WiFi user, you must subscribe to broadband plans that offer a fast internet speed. However, various other factors can affect the speed even if you have subscribed to a high-speed internet plan. These are the factors that can cause your internet to slow down:

·If multiple devices are connected to the router and all these devices are playing at the same time, it will consume your network bandwidth. So, you must ensure that only a few devices are connected to your router. If you have connected your laptop or computer to the WiFi for work purposes, remove it from the WiFi connection. Plug an ethernet cable directly from the router to the laptop/computer. It will reduce the burden on your WiFi connectivity and help you to stream live matches without any interruption.

·Ensure that your router is not behind a wall or furniture. The physical barriers can block the WiFi signal which may be the reason for a slow WiFi speed. Place your router at a height that eliminates all the physical barriers. It can improve its performance to quite an extent.

·Contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) if you are not getting enough speed. Change your plan only if required. Most basic internet plans offer enough bandwidth and speed to watch a live streaming match.

·An outdated browser or application can also affect the internet speed. Ensure that the router is upgraded to the latest firmware. Also, update all your apps and browsers that require internet access to function.

Here are the ways to boost your WiFi speed:

1. Use the latest WiFi technology

WiFi technologies keep evolving with time. Most people use outdated WiFi technologies like Wireless-AC, Wireless-N, etc. IoT devices that are connected to old wireless technologies can affect the speed and performance of your internet plan. Switch to the latest hardware that uses WiFi-6 technology. Choose new routers that offer much higher speeds than older WiFi technologies. These routers also offer dual-band functionality. With dual-band, you can create two separate networks. One network will be receiving and transmitting data at 2.4 GHz. The other network will be receiving and transmitting data at 5 GHz. The 2.4 GHz frequency band is meant for long range whereas the 5 GHz frequency band offers high speed. So, you can connect your IoT devices accordingly.

2. Connect Limited Devices

Too many connected devices can reduce your WiFi speed. For instance, playing online games, watching TV, and streaming live video calls simultaneously puts a lot of pressure on your WiFi connectivity. It consumes your network bandwidth and reduces the performance of your WiFi network.  Some routers enable you to prioritise the apps that require higher bandwidth. For example, to enjoy a live streaming match, you can prioritise the Hotstar app over other apps. You can deprioritize other apps or remove them from your list. Set the routers to auto-update so that they get updated to the latest firmware and drivers. This will ensure that your internet connectivity is smooth.

3. Change the Channel Selection

By default, most routers access channel 6 for WiFi connectivity. The other users of your area must be also using the same channel to access the internet. This will lead to network congestion as multiple devices will be using the same channel. You can use tools like WiFi scanners to determine the WiFi channel that offers maximum bandwidth in your area. By switching the channel, you can get more internet speed which in turn will enable you to watch live streaming matches with ease.

4. Use a range extender

You may use a WiFi range extender to provide WiFi signals to the remote sections of your house. WiFi extenders also boost the signals and help the WiFi reach the dead spots in your house. They also help the network reach through thick walls and can even extend the connection to another floor. Suppose that you have a router installed on the ground floor but want to watch live matches on the first floor. In this case, you can install a WiFi range extender and boost the WiFi signals to reach the first floor.

Importance of Choosing the Right Internet Connection Type

We have discussed some important tips to boost internet speed in the above section. Yet, in most cases, you can simply choose the right internet connection and avoid all the issues. Here are the different options you have when it comes to internet connection types:

1.DSL: Digital Subscriber Line or DSL offers internet through the telephone line. It does not require you to dial a phone number to access internet service. Speeds up to 10 Mbps can be obtained by using this type of internet connection.

2.Cable: A cable internet is a form of broadband connection that uses a cable modem to offer internet connectivity. It typically uses a copper wire to transmit data via electrical signals. While it offers greater speeds than DSL, it is also prone to issues like network congestion. The network issues are more in crowded areas where the bandwidth gets distributed among multiple users living nearby.

3.Satellite: A satellite internet connection uses a wireless connection to offer internet connectivity. Those who live in areas where other types of internet are not available can opt for a satellite connection. However, external factors like bad weather can hamper the internet speed.

4.Fibre-optic: Fibre-optic is a type of internet that uses glass or plastic wires to transmit data. The data is transmitted through light pulses or signals. As a result, this type of internet is more energy-efficient. Also, it is less affected by external factors like rain, humidity, etc. as the fibre-optic cables are dug underground.

A fibre-optic internet is also more secure as it is difficult to intercept light signals. Speeds of up to 1 Gbps can be easily achieved with this type of internet connection. It means that watching live matches in HD quality is not a concern when you get a fibre-optic network. The fibre-optic network may not be available in all parts of the country. Many ISPs have started offering fibre internet services in tier-1 and tier-2 cities. One of the leading ISP (Internet Service Providers) in this aspect is ACT (Atria Convergence Technologies) Ltd. The Fibernet plans offered by ACT are some of the best in their segments. Some of the key features of their broadband plans are mentioned below:

1. Plethora of entertainment options

ACT Fibernet plans come with a variety of entertainment options. You get access to OTT platforms, live channels, and much more without spending extra money. Access to Zee5, SonyLiv, Netflix, Disney+Hotstar, and other OTT platforms ensures that you get your daily entertainment dose. You can watch all the missed TV serials using YuppTV Scope App.

2. Uninterrupted Services

ACT is known to offer uninterrupted internet services through its broadband plans. It was the first company to offer internet speeds of up to 1 Gbps in India. The connectivity is not only lightning fast but it is stable as well. So, you won't face any network congestion or latency issues during a live streaming match. You get equal download and upload speeds with their broadband plans. This allows you to engage in other activities like uploading large files over the cloud without any hassles.

3. Higher Bandwidth

With ACT broadband plans, you get higher bandwidth. The higher bandwidth allows you to share the connection with other users. Playing games, watching live matches, streaming content and other activities can be executed simultaneously with this internet connection.

Conclusion

These were some important pointers when it comes to streaming live matches on Hotstar at 1080p. We hope that you understand the importance of a high-speed internet connection while streaming live matches. The broadband plans from ACT are now available in 23 cities in India. The superfast internet speed offered by these plans enables you to stream live matches without any interruptions.

You can check the availability of plans in your area by visiting their website now!