Network management bandwidth is estimated. Customer requirements are mapped to device type categories. Bandwidth requirements for each device type category are calculated using unit fault requirements and unit performance requirements that are derived from fault attributes and performance attributes, respectively. Overhead bandwidth, polling equipment bandwidth, and web portal bandwidth are also calculated using the customer requirements. A network management bandwidth requirement is calculated using the device type bandwidth requirements, the overhead bandwidth requirement, the polling equipment bandwidth, and the web portal bandwidth requirement. The network management bandwidth requirement is used to select a suitable communications link to monitor and manage a customer's network.