A system and method for calculating a bandwidth requirement between two elements in a communications network are described. The method determines data stream information comprising a total number of data streams available for transmission within at least a portion of a communications network. Endpoint information is determined regarding a number of endpoints in the communications network associated with transmission stream information. Distribution information is determined wherein the distribution information is associated with transmission of the data streams to their end points. The method calculates the bandwidth between two elements in the communications network associated with a data stream demand using the data stream information, the endpoint information, and the distribution information.