By the SightShield team · · 3 min read
What remote work needs from a network
Remote work is mostly video calls, VPN connections to the office, cloud apps and occasional large uploads. None of these need huge speed. They need a connection that is steady: low delay, no drops, and enough upload. A 300 Mbps plan that freezes on calls every evening is worse than a 100 Mbps plan that never drops. Most problems come from Wi-Fi in the wrong place, a busy home network, and no backup when the line goes down.
How much bandwidth is enough
| Activity | Approximate need per person |
|---|---|
| HD video call | About 2–4 Mbps up and down |
| VPN and office apps | A few Mbps; latency matters more |
| Screen sharing and large file uploads | 10 Mbps or more upload makes a real difference |
| Family streaming in 4K at the same time | About 15–25 Mbps per stream |
| CCTV remote viewing and cloud backup | Several Mbps upload when active |
Plan, backup and power
- Choose a fibre plan with symmetrical or high upload speed; upload is what video calls and file sharing use.
- Keep a backup: a second broadband from a different provider, or a 4G/5G router; a dual-WAN router switches over automatically.
- Put the fibre modem, router and any switch on a small UPS; inverters can cause a brief drop when they switch over.
- Note your provider’s complaint number and service ID somewhere you can find during an outage.
Wire the desk if you can
A network cable to your work desk removes most call problems at once. If the router is in the living room and the study is two walls away, run a Cat6 cable through conduit or along the skirting, or put a mesh unit or access point near the desk with a wired backhaul. Wi-Fi is fine for phones and laptops elsewhere, but your main work machine should be wired when possible.
Mesh Wi-Fi vs access points →Separate work, family and devices
A modern home network carries laptops, phones, TVs, gaming consoles, smart plugs, cameras and doorbells. Many cheap smart devices are poorly secured. Use a router that supports separate networks: one for work and family devices, a guest network for visitors, and another for smart home devices and Wi-Fi cameras. Some company laptops also expect a clean network free of unknown devices.
Cheap Wi-Fi cameras and security risks →Security basics
- Change the router admin password from the default, and update its firmware.
- Use WPA2 or WPA3 with a strong Wi-Fi password.
- Turn off remote management and UPnP unless you need them.
- Keep your work laptop’s VPN and updates as your company requires.
Worked example
A couple in Bellandur both work from home in a 3 BHK, with two children streaming in the evenings. Calls froze daily. We kept their 200 Mbps fibre, added a second 100 Mbps line from another provider on a dual-WAN router, ran Cat6 to both work desks, added one ceiling access point for the bedrooms, created separate networks for work, guests and smart devices, and put everything on a 600 VA UPS. Calls have been stable since, including during two provider outages.
Quick answers
What internet speed do I need for work from home?+
For one or two people on calls, 100 Mbps fibre with good upload is usually plenty. Stability matters more than headline speed.
Why do my video calls freeze?+
Most often weak Wi-Fi at the desk, a busy network, or drops in the line. A wired desk and backup connection fix most cases.
Is a 4G router a good backup?+
Yes, if coverage is good at your home. A second fibre line is more consistent.
Should the router be on a UPS?+
Yes. A small UPS keeps the modem and router running through power cuts and inverter switchovers.
Should smart devices be on a separate network?+
Yes. A separate network limits the damage if a cheap device is compromised.
Do I need a Wi-Fi 6 router for working from home?+
It helps in busy homes with many devices, but a wired desk and good router placement matter more than the Wi-Fi version.