What are the bandwidth requirements for business conferences and Multi-Media Applications?

A common question ... and one that often causes confusion and headaches .... concerns just how much bandwidth is required for business video conferencing and multimedia applications.

Let's go right and try to shed light to clarify things a bit '. Here are some basics to give you a good base to go forward.

A position running a low traffic to view the video may be from 256 to 384k ... Two positions in running and downloading files via the internet the video may be 384k-768 ... Three positions of power in a location off the main through MPLS full-time T1 is burstable up to 3 mg. Moreover, the assignment of channels with simultaneous voice, data and video would work well.

It 's important to consider the area of ​​traffic for voice, data, internet, places, ... and specific software, equipment and other related devices. Where are racing to and from .... and the points of termination.

You can use a simple T1, DS3, PRI connected ... ethernet (if the companies are based in New York ... and say that you have multiple locations running back through the main server ... that is one thing to consider, including what types of software, devices and bandwidth is working in the configuration in the central point.)

Keep in mind you may need to brush up on some other LOC or the configuration a bit 'different to free space ...

If your talking rather simple set up base ... low cost and not in the delay to avoid latency problems ... a fractional T1 all the way to a PRI linked to the simultaneous allocation of channels is affordable and upgradeable. After having dedicated point to point T1 for moderate use would be fine too.

Headaches for corp use are DSL, BRI, ISDN, Frame Relay. This does not mean you do not work well .... but there is more defects per incident if your serious about running and the availability of routes (think quality and reliability).

If you are planning a Halo or TelePresence room, then a 10 Mb Ethernet or DS3 is a minimum since the requirements are 3 Mbps per channel.

For units like Tandberg and Polycom, using H.264, you can get away with 384-768 kbps per site. Using H.263, 768 kbps is a minimum quality standard, you can use just one T1 in these scenarios. How do you want to integrate into your existing WAN is up to you ... MPLS, FR, ATM, Ethernet, etc.

Personally, I would try to use MPLS for the WAN and add my video as a higher priority in order to dynamically allocate the bandwidth rather than dedicated circuits.

There ya go folks ... just the basics.

For the next step actually find a solution of bandwidth .... take advantage of free advice available from DS3-Bandwidth.com ....