Huawei Enables SkyFire's Optimizer as a Cloud Service

Opera Software's Skyfire today announced a ".. strategic partnership with Huawei in which Skyfire’s Rocket Optimizer platform will be made available to mobile operators in Huawei’s Cloud Edge Virtual Multi-Service Engine (vMSE - see "Huawei Unveils Cloud Edge Solution for Breakthrough Services Agility with NFV" - here).
 

.. Over-the-top video and audio optimization represents a significant application of NFV. Demand for streaming content has grown exponentially in recent years, although its impact on networks can occur unpredictably in various locations at various times throughout the day. 

Mobile operators need the ability to bring up and take down resources for multiple locations throughout the day, which can be expensive if done inline at locations near the network edge. By virtualizing these network functions through Skyfire’s Rocket Optimizer, operators can expand capacity instantly to deliver a positive and cost-effective quality of experience for their subscribers".

See "Opera’s Skyfire unit partners with Huawei to deliver video optimization for Cloud Edge vMSE platform" - here.

Winners of BBTM Awards 2014: NetCracker (x2), Huawei, Avvasi, Sandvine, Skyfire

The Broadband Traffic Congress 2014 awards, shown with relevant links to recent posts in my blog (see also 2011, 2012 and 2013 awards):

• Best Big Data Solution for Improving Customer Experience: NetCracker ‘Big Data solution’
   
• Most Innovative Tool for Driving Real-Time Intelligence: Huawei ‘Real Time Decision Center’ - see "Huawei: Over 3B Subscribers Served by Our SDM" - here
   .
• Best Optimisation Tool for Managing Video Traffic: Avvasi ‘Q-SRV’ Solution' - see "WIND Mobile [Canada] Uses Avvasi to Improve Video QoE" - here and "Virgin Mobile [France] Deploys Avvasi to Improve Video QoE" - here.
   
• Best Real Time Charging Platforms for Customers: Sandvine – 'Sandvine Quota Manager' - see "Sandvine Enables CSPs to Interact Directly w/Subscribers; How does it Work?" - here
   
• Best Cloud Solution for Traffic Management: Skyfire ‘Rocket Optimizer’ Solution - see "Opera Adds Audio to Rocket Optimizer" - here
   
• Best Analytics for Network Management: Netcracker  'Real Time Analytics Solution' - see "NetCracker Launches SDN/NFV Based Service Orchestrator" - here.

[Report] Video and Data Optimization Can Gain $28B for MNO in 5 Years

A new report by ABI Research, commissioned by Opera Software’s Skyfire unit, finds that "Mobile operators globally can benefit from a net gain of at least $28.7 billion over five years by deploying mobile video and data optimization technology in their networks.

Key findings, based on a conservative assumption that if just one in three operators deploys video and data optimization technology, the savings and revenue boost will therefore be as follows:

• Churn-reduction savings: $12,947 million
• Tariff-upgrade revenue boost: $6,481 million
• Total-cost-of-ownership reduction savings: $9,347.6 million
• Total over 5 years: $28,776 million

..The model uses actual country market data, from economic and demographic data to mobile operator subscription and radio access network (RAN) deployment data.

Sample use cases:

• Philippines, churn reduction: Using the Philippines market, where there is some 4G subscriber adoption (2.5 million) but a much larger proportion on 3G (22 million), the average data throughput in the base station cell edge zones is estimated to be 365 Kbps without optimization. Boosting the quality of experience by enabling 30% to 60% greater data throughput can boost overall subscribers by around 2% per year and increase the subscriber retention rate equating to additional retained service revenues of US$204 million over a 5-year period.

• Brazil, tariff upgrade: Using a conservative scenario of 2%, ABI Research calculates that an operator in the Brazilian market can generate an additional US$474 million in service revenue over a 5-year period from its 3G and 4G subscribers, attributed to faster user data rates and improved QoE".

See "Video and data optimization can deliver $28 billion net gain to mobile operators over five years, independent analysis for Opera reveals" - here.

Opera Adds Audio to Rocket Optimizer

Opera Software announced that its "Skyfire unit [see "Opera Buys Skyfire for (up to) $155M" - here] has added streaming audio optimization as a new feature to Rocket Optimizer, its NFV-ready video and data optimization platform for mobile operators .. Rocket Optimizer manages streaming audio traffic in the same way that it optimizes mobile video traffic. 

It uses its built-in Experience Assurance functionality to automatically detect when the end-user’s live audio stream is about to stall, buffer or drop off entirely due to a poor connection – in real-time, before the problem starts. Rocket Optimizer then instantly adapts the audio stream to fit the available capacity in the network, in order to ensure the end user receives a smooth, uninterrupted, high-quality streaming audio experience. 

Rocket Optimizer’s streaming audio optimization works with most of the world’s most popular streaming music services, as well as with “long tail” streaming content hosted on myriad web sites. It supports both MP3 and MP4 stream formats, and - unlike competing optimization solutions – can also convert streams to the more efficient AAC+ codec, which is able to deliver high audio quality over a low bitrate connection to any compatible device".

See "Opera’s Skyfire unit adds streaming audio optimization to Rocket Optimizer" - here.

Opera/Skyfire Adds Real-Time Analytics

Opera Software's Skyfire (here) unit released "Rocket Insights™ as part of its Rocket Optimizer platform to help operators better manage their network loads by providing a real-time analytics dashboard that analyzes mobile video congestion. Operators can now instantly view key metrics such as stall rates, video start times, bitrate distribution and mean opinion score, and use this data to improve their overall network traffic management.

Rocket Insights elegantly addresses the current lack of existing real-time video monitoring analytics in a graphical and user-customizable dashboard. It provides operators with visibility into the importance of actionable quality of experience (QoE) monitoring that can intervene as needed to improve the video experience for each user on the network. Operators can test and refine their optimization strategies using the dashboard, and measure how these rates improve or change on the basis of real-time adjustments that they make.

Prior to the release of Rocket Insights, traffic management analytics were limited to packet- or URL-level data, which were often a poor proxy metric for application session quality, and did not allow for session mitigation actions in real time. Rocket Insights, on the other hand, now allows operators to easily see the impact of video on their networks, down to individual subscribers and their anonymized location in the network.

Rocket Optimizer is currently deploying with Telenor’s mobile networks across 11 countries, as well as across the national network of a Tier 1 US-based operator. Rocket Optimizer is also currently in live user trials with multiple operators around the world. The new Rocket Insights module is also compatible with leading traffic steering partners of Skyfire’s such as F5, Procera Networks [see "Procera Partners with Skyfire: Detects and Steers Video Traffic for Optimization" - here] and ConteXtream [see "Telenor Manages OTT Video Traffic With: ALU, Opera/SkyFire, ConteXtream and Velocix" - here]

See "Opera’s Skyfire Adds Video Analytics Dashboard to Rocket Optimizer Platform" - here.

Winners of BBTM Awards 2013: Oracle, Avvasi, ALU, Procera, Huawei, Skyfire and Flash Networks

The Broadband Traffic Congress 2013 awards, shown with relevant links to recent posts in my blog (see 2012 awards here):

• Best Use of Traffic Management for Improving Customer Experience: Oracle’s Tekelec Policy Solution - Telefonica and Oracle Expand PCRF to Fixed Broadband"
     
• Best Content Optimisation Tool for Managing Video Traffic on Mobile Networks: Avvasi Q-SRV - Avvasi Launches Video Analytics Service Gateway - w/Location (RAN), Device and Subscriber Awareness
   
• Best Mobile Offload Solution for Enhancing Customer Experience: Alcatel-Lucent 5780 DSC – Wi-Fi Control Module - Who is Using ALU's PCRF?
   
• Most Innovative Tool for Driving Real-Time Intelligence: Procera Networks - PacketLogic Dynamic LiveView - Procera's Use-Cases for New Real-Time Analytics
   
• Best Real Time Charging Platform for Customers: Huawei Convergent Billing Solution from VGS - Huawei: New Traffic Management Products and Deployments
   
• Best Cloud Solution for Traffic Management: Skyfire - Rocket Optimizer 3.0 - SkyFire's New Caching and other Features
   
• INNOVATION ACCELERATOR: Flash Networks - Flash Networks Optimizes MPEG-DASH with 30%-50% Data Reduction

Procera Partners with Skyfire: Detects and Steers Video Traffic for Optimization

Procera Networks and Skyfire, a fully-owned subsidiary of Opera Software (see "Opera Buys Skyfire for (up to) $155M" - here), announced a ".. joint solution and partnership to tackle the rapid growth of video traffic on global mobile networks, based on an open, scalable ICAP architecture .. The joint solution is designed to bring Procera’s leadership in intelligent policy enforcement together with Skyfire’s cloud-based mobile video optimization solution, Rocket OptimizerTM. Procera's Advanced Traffic Steering uses highly granular and accurate criteria to determine when and what video should be optimized. 

Together, the solution provides rapid scalability and quick time to market that is unprecedented in the industry, and provides over 2 times the boost in network capacity versus competing solutions by optimizing virtually all types of video traffic – including network-clogging HD video. This results in superior service provider economics and broadband subscriber experience. Procera and Skyfire, joining with other industry leaders, have also modeled their solution on an open ICAP architecture.

The interoperable solution is already being field-trialed by a major European operator".

See "Procera Networks and Skyfire Announce Deployment-Ready Partnership" - here.

Telenor Manages OTT Video Traffic With: ALU, Opera/SkyFire, ConteXtream and Velocix

Alcatel-Lucent and TelenorGroup have "signed a three-year global frame agreement that will give customers fast, buffering-free mobile video and improve overall Internet service quality. The agreement will enable the deployment of mobile Internet optimization for Telenor’s 2G, 3G and 4G networks in Europe and Asia. Alcatel-Lucent will help Telenor address the challenges caused by mobile users accessing ‘over the top’ (OTT) video from sites like YouTube or Netflix"

"Telenor will deploy technology that automatically manages the delivery of Internet traffic over a mobile network, optimizing the experience for customers watching video and accessing web content while ensuring a surge in demand doesn’t affect those using the network for other activities.

The mobile Internet optimization solution includes: Opera’s  SkyfireRocket Controller and Optimizer [see Opera Buys Skyfire for (up to) $155M" - here] , ConteXtream’s [here, here] Session Control to manage end-to-end sessions across the network, automatically directing video traffic to Skyfire based on rules or policies decided on by the operator, Velocix 7810 Transparent Caching [here] and  9900 Wireless Network Guardian".

 

See "Telenor Group selects Alcatel-Lucent to enhance mobile Internet experience in 11 countries" - here.

Opera Buys Skyfire for (up to) $155M

Skyfire management team

Opera Software announced it has ".. acquired Skyfire Labs ... Skyfire currently counts three large U.S. mobile operators [here] as customers for its Rocket Optimizer and Skyfire Horizon solutions, and is in trials with ten other operators around the world .. the two companies envision a powerful new set of joint products to be released over the coming year by combining their talents and know-how. In particular, they look to expand on Opera’s Web Pass offering, which allows consumers to purchase innovative data plans such as an unlimited ‘day pass’ of popular apps and web sites for an affordable price, thanks to video and data optimization. WebPass can enable new business models for operators, such as toll free data, ad-supported data, and more"

More on Skyfire's technology - here and here. See also "A Message From Skyfire CEO, Jeff Glueck" - here.

".. The acquisition price includes a mix of cash and stock, with an upfront consideration of US$50 million (including US$8 million of cash on the Skyfire balance sheet) and performance based earn-out payments over three years, including US$26 million in cash held in escrow and funded upfront, that can bring the total deal size to $155 million"

See "Opera acquires Skyfire, broadens its mobile operator solutions beyond the browser" - here.

SkyFire's New Caching and other Features

Skyfire announced the launch of its ".. enhanced video and data optimization platform for operators - Rocket Optimizer 3.0. In this release .. Skyfire’s Rocket Optimizer, which already provides operators with a 60% boost in bandwidth capacity across smartphones, tablets and PCs, is announcing the addition of these new features in Rocket Optimizer 3.0: Measurement of bandwidth conditions in real time for every subscriber session .. CloudBurst Architecture that allows for instant expansion of optimization capacity to the carrier or public clouds, Enhanced optimization algorithms for the MP4 and H.264 video standards and CloudCache – a cloud-based caching solution that brings significant reductions in operator server, peering and IP transit costs"

To my question, Jay Hinman (pictured), Sr. Director, Marketing, Skyfire explained that "Our CloudCache solution we've announced is deliberately focused on video and large images only, in order to not only combat the largest bandwidth hog on networks (and largest disrupter of end-user experience), but also to reduce the number of deployed servers needed and to reduce CPU. We don't compete with general transparent caching solutions and instead seek to complement and improve upon them" (see chart below).

See "Skyfire delivers next-generation mobile video optimization with Rocket Optimizer 3.0" - here.

Optimization Announcements: Skyfire Adds Audio and Image Optimization; Can rest now!

 
Historically, optimization solutions started with text, image and then moved to video. The younger players jumped directly on the most lucrative media - Video, but it seems that they still need to go the basics, and provide the full solution.

Skyfire (see "Optimization Market: Verizon Invests in Skyfire" - here) announced that it added "image and audio optimization to its carrier-grade product line.. Skyfire’s [existing] video optimization solution increases effective network capacity by 25-30 percent across RAN and network core. With the addition of image and audio support, Skyfire can increase network capacity by an additional 10 percent for a total of up to 40 percent capacity increase".

With that, Skyfire believes its work has been completed: "Skyfire analysis shows that video, images, and audio together make up more than 90 percent of the bits on the web that can be optimized. As for the rest, most modern web servers already compress HTML, Javascript, XML and other text-heavy content and the approximately 2 percent on potential savings does not justify the cost of deploying text compression services in the network".

See "Loud and Clear: Skyfire Rocket 2.0 Platform Gets Enhanced With Image and Audio Optimization" - here.

Optimization Market: Verizon Invests in Skyfire

  

Skyfire management team

Skyfire Labs announced that ".. it has raised $8 million in its Series C financing. Verizon Investments LLC, a subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc. participated in the round, alongside current investors .. Rocket Optimizer 2.0, the latest iteration of Skyfire’s powerful carrier-grade network video and data optimization platform, was launched in October 2011. With mobile video demand expected to rise steeply over the next three years, Rocket 2.0 aims to help carriers solve capacity issues linked to the rapid rise of mobile video streaming".

 

See also - "Mobile video optimization is a hot topic for 2012"; Shows Market Landscape" - here. 

See "Skyfire Gets ‘Fuel’ From Verizon and Three Existing Investors to Expand Its Rocket Platform With $8M in Series C Financing" - here.