Audio Calls

• Skype audio calls require a minimum download speed of 30kpbs (kilobytes per second) and a recommended download speed of 100kpbs. The lower your speed, the more likely audio call sound quality will become choppy from time to time. The higher the speed, the smoother the sound will be, with a lower chance of service interruption.
  
  

Video Calls

• Skype video calls require much greater download speeds than audio since they incorporate both audio and video streams. For regular-quality video calls, your Internet connection must be at least 128kpbs but ideally it should be 300kpbs. For high-quality video calls that range is 400 to 500kbps. High-definition video calls eat up the most bandwidth, with a minimum-to-recommended speed of 1.2 to 1.5 Mbps (Megabytes per second).
  
  

Group Video

• Skype also lets you conduct video conversations with multiple participants. The required download speed therefor is higher than for calls between two people. Group conversations with three people requires a minimum of 512kbps download speeds, while the optimal speed is 2 Mbps. Calls involving four to six participants require 2 to 4 Mbps, and calls with seven or more people needs 4 to 8 Mbps download speeds.
  
  

Testing Download Speeds

• If you are not sure whether your download speed will be fast enough for an audio or video conversation on Skype, you can test it before placing the call. While viewing a contact, click the "Check Settings" button and click the "Test Now" button under "Connection." Skype will tell you whether the call will be impossible, adequate or excellent.