Ericsson Targets Video-On-Demand Services With New Infrastructure Solution

Ericsson’s 2015 ConsumerLab report finds that over 50 percent of people stream video-on-demand (VOD) content each day, reflecting consumer shifts towards convenient TV experiences that allow for binge watching and selective access to shows. To address the technical challenges of expanding video services, Ericsson unveiled its VOD Infrastructure solution, which enables TV service providers to seamlessly offer more to subscribers, without the need to rip and replace legacy systems.

Based on the Ericsson Video Storage and Processing platform, the pure software infrastructure supports increased streaming capacity and is able to achieve massive scale out of capacity and architecture, helping TV service providers to develop a multipurpose platform and bring real value to its audience base. The high performance nature of this infrastructure gives it the power to handle additions ranging from VOD from any device, delivered via cable or internet to  catch-up TV, and live to VOD in all formats up to Ultra high definition, depending on the needs of the provider. Reduced storage requirements and integrated just-in-time packaging also mean that services can be augmented to support a wider range of devices more cost effectively.

Use cases include:

• Dynamic Origin, a specialized video storage and processing platform that processes input content to produce a different video playout format
• RTSP pump allowing delivery of VOD content to all devices including legacy set top boxes leveraging the Content Delivery Network (CDN) as a source for the content
• Master Video Library, making expansive libraries possible through integration of transcoding on the same server stack
• Long Tail Server that streams long tail content directly to the end user therefore eliminating edge cache contamination

Itai Tomer, Head of Cloud DVR, Ericsson, says: “The internet era of TV has brought with it opportunities for TV service providers of all sizes, as long as they adapt to the habits and preferences of their customers. To compete with fierce competition from OTT providers, all forward-thinking players are looking to offer new services such as catch up TV or start over TV. With our solution we are addressing all levels of customers with unique configurations, and giving them the ability to future proof themselves and grow as they see necessary.”

The launch coincides with a host of recent updates to the Ericsson Video Storage and Processing Platform, the all-software platform at the heart of the VOD Infrastructure solution. With video processing enabled, all time and place-shifting video services ranging from VOD to Catch-up to Cloud DVR are possible utilizing a single platform. The latest update to this product enables newer capabilities and tighter integration with other parts of the Ericsson portfolio such as Mediaroom Reach, Media First and Media Delivery Network solutions, which translates into lower cost and greater efficiencies to TV service providers. The new features include support for subtitling of over-the-top (OTT) content, full support for Ultra HD (4K)/HEVC services enabling streaming of high quality video at lower bitrates and increased cost-savings, as well as CDN assisted delivery of RTSP (real-time streaming protocol) and CBR (constant bit-rate) content.