Ovum: 3 Key Factors to Best Broadband Consumer Experience

A new report by Michael Philpott [pictured], Practice Leader Consumer Services, Ovum finds that "In order to support their expectations of their broadband experience, the majority of fixed line consumer broadband users surveyed need a download speed of at least 10Mbps .. the best consumer experience is supported by three key factors: 

• a download speed of at least 10Mbps; [related post - "Broadband Minimal Speed is ..." - here]
• a stable and reliable network that delivers content with a wait time of no more than 3 seconds; and 
• outstanding customer service that can resolve most customer issues at the first point of contact.

The research, which combined a consumer survey with quantitative market data on the fixed broadband market in 30 countries, confirmed the rise of SD and HD video as a commonplace application that is driving the end-user experience, and hence the need for networks to be able to support high-quality video delivery". 


See "Ovum:10Mbps has become the new minimum to support customer broadband expectations" - here.

How Long will you Wait for Video to Load? Will you Pay Extra for QoE?

An "independent research conducted by Censuswide commissioned by Openwave Mobility has found that poor mobile video streaming is an even bigger headache than a dropped call for iPhone users. Over 2,000 iPhone users in the UK and US were interviewed ahead of the new iPhone launch on 9th September to study people’s mobile video habits:

• Over half (59%) of subscribers in both countries will abandon streaming a mobile video if they have to wait longer than 15 seconds
   
• Nearly a fifth (19%) will abandon a video after only a 5 second wait
    
• In both countries almost 1/3 of subscribers (31%) expressed a strong view that video buffering is simply unacceptable, and video delivery by mobile operators is lagging behind the latest handset technology that is driving the industry forward
    
• 39%, said they would pay extra dollars if the operator could only provide some assurance on the quality of video delivery
    
• 1 in 2 customers blame the carrier for poor mobile video service and 1 in 3 blame Apple. Notably almost nobody blames the content providers or the Over The Top (OTT) players". 

  

See "Mobile Video Buffering is the Biggest Annoyance for iPhone Users" - here.

Verizon vs. Netflix on Congestion - It is NOT Us!

So, who is responsible for a smooth video experience ? The ISP? the content provider? the transit network between the two?

According to Verizon, it is not them (at least in the case of Netflix streaming).

David Young report to the carrier's Public policy Blog:

Netflix ISP Ranking for Verizon FiOS, Feb-Jun 2014

"A few weeks ago, Verizon received an email from a customer in Los Angeles asking why he was not getting a good experience watching Netflix on his 75 Mbps FiOS connection.

He was understandably confused by some of the misleading public accounts that inaccurately suggest widespread congestion that could affect Netflix traffic on Verizon’s network [see "Netflix to Verizon: Nope, Your Congested Pipes Are Still Your Fault" - here]

.. our network operations team studied the network connection for this customer for the week preceding the date that he emailed us. They measured the utilization – or the percentage of total capacity used – at every link in the Verizon network – from the customer to the edge of our network, where we receive Netflix traffic .. there was no congestion anywhere within the Verizon network. There was, however, congestion at the interconnection link to the edge of our network (the border router) used by the transit providers chosen by Netflix to deliver video traffic to Verizon’s network .. For whatever reason (perhaps to cut costs and improve its profitability), Netflix did not make arrangements to deliver this massive amount of traffic through connections that can handle it"

See "Why is Netflix Buffering? Dispelling the Congestion Myth" - here.

How does Netflix Use Big Data to Improve QoE?

Nirmal Govind, Director, Streaming Science & Algorithms, Netflix, explains how "we use big data for deep analysis and predictive algorithms to help provide the best experience for our members ..  the types of problems we're solving [I am quoting 2 of the items]

• Understanding the impact of QoE on user behavior

To improve the streaming experience, we look at QoE metrics that are likely to have an impact on user behavior. One metric of interest is the rebuffer rate, which is a measure of how often playback is temporarily interrupted while more data is downloaded from the server to replenish the local buffer on the client device. Another metric, bitrate, refers to the quality of the picture that is served/seen - a very low bitrate corresponds to a fuzzy picture. There is an interesting relationship between rebuffer rate and bitrate. Since network capacity is limited, picking too high of a bitrate increases the risk of hitting the capacity limit, running out of data in the local buffer, and then pausing playback to refill the buffer. What’s the right tradeoff?

• Determining what movies and shows to cache on the edge servers based on member viewing behavior [see "Netflix CDN Customers have More Fun" - here]

A set of big data problems also exists on the content delivery side. Open Connect is Netflix's own content delivery network that allows ISPs to directly connect to Netflix servers at common internet exchanges, or place a Netflix-provided storage appliance (cache) with Netflix content on it at ISP locations. The key idea here is to locate the content closer (in terms of network hops) to our members to provide a great experience.

One of several interesting problems here is to optimize decisions around content caching on these appliances based on the viewing behavior of the members served. With millions of members, a large catalog, and limited storage capacity, how should the content be cached to ensure that when a member plays a particular movie or show, it is being served out of the local cache/appliance?

See "Optimizing the Netflix Streaming Experience with Data Science" - here.

Optimization Deployments [153]: 3UK Deployed Allot(Ortiva) for Video Optimization

Allot Communications announced a deployment of its recently acquired video optimization solution (see "Allot: Cost of Ortiva Acquisition - Less than $17M, in Cash" - here) to 3UK, probably the "European (part of a larger group) tier1 mobile customer" mentioned in the above link.

3UK faces a huge growth in data consumption (see "3UK: New Year's Mobile Traffic Growth: Voice +10%; SMS +28%; Data +471%" - here) and announced recently it will control some heavy data subscribers and usages (see "3UK Identifies and Controls File Sharing, Tethering and High Data Use" - here).

With video optimization it adds another level of data control. ".. Three UK has deployed Ortiva Wireless' unique iVOG (internet Video Optimization Gateway) platform to help optimize Three UKnetwork costs and provide the necessary level of quality for subscribers. By reducing the stalls, or buffering, that can be encountered by people watching video over mobile networks, Three UK's customers will receive a superior video experience".

Phil Sheppard (pictured), Director of Network Strategy at Three UK said: "Three selected the Ortiva iVOG platform after a detailed RFP, lab and field trial process Ortiva's scalability advantages allowed the deployment to be paid for entirely by the savings in network expansion costs, while at the same time improving the subscriber quality of experience even under challenging network conditions".

See "Allot Announces Three UK Customer Deployment of Ortiva Wireless IVOG Platform" - here.

Mobixell Reports Improved Buffer Management by YouTube

 
According to a report in Mobile Europe - "Staff at video optimisation company Mobixell noticed that some YouTube videos appear to be using a different streaming technology to usual. The change seems to be designed to reduce the amount of "unwatched video", and therefore unused data, delivered across fixed and mobile networks".

"Typically, if you start a YouTube video and then press pause the full video will continue to buffer while the player is paused. This is represented by a shadow progress bar loading from left to right, while the "play" progress bar is stalled. But Mobixell has noticed that in about 10% of videos it currently handles, when the pause button pressed the buffer stops as well .. Mobixell said that its files appear to show the new streaming protocol is called Toast and Buttered Sliced Bread, or TABSB".

Google's YouTube press office commented: "Optimising video streaming is important for the user experience and over the past year we've introduced a number of updates in the way some YouTube mobile clients perform buffering and caching. We continue experimenting and hope to introduce some exciting improvements in the upcoming months".

See "Is YouTube trialling mobile optimised streaming?" - here.

ACG Research: "Edge routers are augmented with DPI"

 

Michael Kennedy, Principal Analyst, ACG Research explains in an article to Fierce Telecom how mobile operators will be handling the ever-increasing video traffic on their network, responding to the demand for bandwidth and consistent quality (i.e low jitter or elimination of the "buffering" problem) expected by the subscribers.

"Systems vendors' response to these technical and market imperatives include increasing the bandwidth of the access network by moving fiber closer to subscribers and moving to including GE (gigabit Ethernet) or even 10 GE backhaul and extending QoS (quality of service) out to individual services and subscribers. .. One alternative to throwing bandwidth at the problem is to use cloud computing concepts to distribute video caches out onto the aggregation network so as to reduce its required bandwidth capacity. .. Advanced edge routing concepts also provide alternatives to provisioning more bandwidth. Edge routers can deliver both service level and subscriber level QoS so that no more bandwidth than necessary is transmitted on the aggregation network. Edge routers also are augmented with intelligent networking capabilities (DPI, deep packet inspection) to better deliver application specific QoS and enforce service differentiation policies".

See "Video driving carriers to rethink their network architecture choices" - here.

See related offering from Genband (here), Cisco (here), Sandvine (here), Stoke (here), DiviNetworks (here).

Bytemobile: Video Stalling is Still a Major Problem for MNOs

     

Bytemobile released its 1Q 2011 Mobile Minute Metrics report (see the press release - "Bytemobile Secures its 36th Video Optimization Win for Mobile Network Operator Deployment" - here and download section - here).

Among the many charts, I found the one discussion Video Stalling as very interesting. The vendor reached the following conclusions:

• Even on advanced networks, mobile video users experience stalling of play (see chart - from "anonymously sources data traffic in a global cross-section of Bytemobile customers’ wireless networks")
   
• Mobile subscribers stop watching video content when they experience significant stalling
   
• Consumers use quality of mobile video play as an indication of network quality 

See also - "Vendor Review: Bytemobile New Smart Capacity System" - here and "BE (UK): World Cup Without Buffering" - here.

Netflix Publishes ISP Performance

 

Netflix, the provider of OTT video streaming services, was recently the cause for the conflict between Level3 and Comcast (here), over inter-carrier settlement charges while putting Net Neutrality regulation into a reality test.

Now, in a recent blog port by Ken Florance (picture), Director of Content Delivery, the provider publishes performance data for US and Canadian ISPs.

See "Netflix Performance on Top ISP Networks" - here.

The blog has charts (see the US one below - Comcast is 2nd best) showing throughput over time. However, an equally important index, jitter, is not shown. While throughput may affect the video quality delivered (see below) to the subscriber, jitter may affect the number of times the subscriber will see the notorious  "buffering" phenomena and wait for content. See "BE (UK): World Cup Without Buffering" (here).

A recent study from Sandvine discovered that "In the United States, Netflix represents more than 20 percent of downstream traffic during peak times and is heaviest between 8-10 p.m" (here). So averaging throughput over a whole day will not tell you what happens at prime-time when everybody is watching.

"Currently, our top HD streams are about 4800 kilobits per second. Clients may switch through a number of bitrates as they ramp up to the highest stream, or shift down from the highest stream if they cannot sustain play at that rate due to throughput constraints. No client would sustain a 4800 stream from start to finish (there would at least be a few smaller streams averaged in for startup) but the higher the sustained average, the greater the throughput the client can achieve, and the greater the image quality over the duration of the play"

Bytemobile Sees Optimization as Must Also for Next Generation Networks

    

Publishing traffic statistics reports and forecasting the future of networks in a way that will fit the vendor's offering is a common marketing exercise done by most traffic management vendors. The most recent report comes from Bytemobile, a vendor of mobile optimization solutions.

It joins Allot's MobileTrends (here), Cisco's VNI (here) and Sandvine's "Mobile Internet Phenomena" (here).

Bytemobile's report concentrates, naturally, on mobile video - the most attractive aspect of its traffic optimization solutions. See the press release "Bytemobile Releases Global Metrics Report on Mobile Video" - here. The report itself is available for downloading after registration - below are some of the findings.

QoS issues for real-time applications such as streaming video may be resolved in a number of ways - such as DPI based traffic prioritization as well as data (video) optimization. The latter has a major drawback (depending on the device used for viewing the video - see video below on ByteMobile's Lossy Media Optimization) – it reduces the user's quality of experience and requires larger Capex investments from carriers implementing it in a large network.

However, Bytemobile does not miss any opportunity to push optimization as the only possible solution and even concludes that "Stalling occurs on the fastest of networks, underscoring the probability that not even next-generation network technology will be sufficient to satisfy user demand for data services."

Nevertheless, Joel Brand, vice president of Product Management at Bytemobile does mention another way:

“As data traffic continues to increase, not only will the user experience deteriorate, but operators will have to implement stringent billing policies to curtail data usage. Bytemobile’s field-proven optimization solutions enable operators to remain competitive by serving more users and traffic within their existing infrastructure, offering a better user experience to reduce churn and requiring fewer policies to control traffic.”

See also - BE (UK): World Cup Without Buffering - here and Airtel Offers "Cricket without Buffering" on YouTube - here.

Some of Bytemobile's findings are:

• Mobile video usage is the single largest factor in reduced bandwidth availability and network congestion
   
• Mobile users opt for lower-quality videos to avoid stalling and enjoy a better media experience (see chart below)
   
• Stalling occurs on even the fastest of networks and a quality user experience requires optimization of video content
   
• On average, 60 seconds of video watched on a 3G network included approximately 10 seconds of stalling, optimization reduced stalling to nearly zero
   
• YouTube accounts for 36% of the total video traffic on wireless networks worldwide, and 4 of the top 10 video domains are adult content-specific sites generating nearly 15% of the total video traffic on wireless networks

Source: ByteMobile

BE (UK): World Cup Without Buffering

  

It seems that major sporting events are good for ISP marketing. After we saw Airtel's (India) "Cricket without Buffering" (here) we get now a new, a bit confusing I must say, campaign from BE (UK) to "end buffering, because it’s going to hinder you from making the most out of your online viewing experience".

This is announced in connection to the 2010 World Cup opened yesterday. See BE's blog post "BE’S CAMPAIGN TO BANISH BUFFERING" (here). The post mixes several issues related to Over the Top Video services: speed, throughput, traffic shaping and byte-cap (quota) trying to show that BE is has superior QoE compared to other ISPs.

So why it is sp confisuing?

For once, BE says that "For example, the average UK broadband speed is 3.6mbps, but streaming video needs an average of 9mbps of bandwidth to avoid buffering" - buffering is used to overcome the jitter (variance in throughput). You cannot stream 9 Mbps (if this is what you need) over 3.6 for 90 minutes football ("soccer") match ... (or buffering will take you almost 90 minutes). Buffering maybe needed with any connection speed, to overcome temporary congestion conditions anywhere between the subscriber and the streaming server.

BE's bottom line is "With no traffic shaping in place, you can be sure that you’ll never be “buffering about” ever again" (!). Actually, traffic shaping is the tool to grant higher (or highest) priority to streaming video .. traffic shaping is an effective toos to minimize buffering!

Related post - "Apple TV Goes Streaming, HD and to the Clouds" - here