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Using WiGig to enable PushVoD How MNOs can deliver HD video without losing capacity
Henry Nurser
CEO, Blu Wireless Technology Ltd
www.bluwirelesstechnology.com
Using WiGig to enable PushVoD How MNOs can deliver HD video and without losing capacity
White paper
Henry Nurser, CEO, Blu Wireless Technology Ltd
Introduction
The rise of the smartphone and tablet
PC has driven an exponential growth
in mobile video consumption. Mobile
networks are therefore groaning under
the strain and as this trend continues,
the networks will not be able to cope.
Indeed, even further massive
investments in 3G and 4G LTE
network infrastructure will not been
enough to keep pace with this
exponential growth in desire for
uninterrupted access to the internet
and other video content.
Mobile operators (MNOs) therefore
need to find a way to manage this
traffic to deliver this video without
causing excessive customer churn or
undertaking excessive spending on
infrastructure.
Additionally, to maximise profits from
their networks they need to have
control of the video’s digital rights. The
alternative is to lose this stream of
revenue to third parties, such as
Apple, Google and Netflix.
But the rise of ultra high-speed
wireless technologies, such as WiGig,
and the very large flash memory
embedded in portable devices gives
an opportunity to offload the bandwidth
needs onto WiFi LANs; syncing video
and large files to the mobile’s cache –
a technique called PushVoD.
PushVoD
PushVoD is similar in concept to
Apple’s iCloud and enables:
• Full HD (1080p) content • True video on demand anywhere
and at anytime • Independence from mobile
coverage • MNOs to monetise access to
premium AV content
It is achieved through the instant
syncing of large high resolution video
files from home (and public) servers to
the very high capacity disk drives that
are embedded within smartphones,
tablet PCs and other portable
multimedia devices.
Mobile market pull
It is now just 7 years since the first
iPhone was announced and four since
the first iPad. In this time the market
has grown exponentially and tablet
sales have been forecast by IDC to
overtake PCs by the end of this year.
These recent developments of
powerful and sophisticated portable
platforms that are capable of
recording, decoding and displaying HD
video are helping fuel the explosive
growth in video wireless internet traffic
described above.
Cisco’s global mobile traffic forecast
(2013) stated that global mobile data
traffic grew 70 per cent last year to
nearly 900 petabytes per month with
video exceeding 50 per cent of this.
And this is set to increase, with 4G
users consuming 19 times more traffic
than non-4G users. Furthermore, the
rise in screen resolution in both the
TV, tablet and smartphone market has
led to online content shifting to full high
definition video.
In 2011 a report by Tellabs/ Analysys
Mason predicted that, assuming
trends were maintained in data,
revenues and the cost associated with
the investment in high-speed data
networks, operators in the developed
economies would run out of profit by
Q1 2014. While this date has changed
it is still a threat and it is clear that a
radical change in the approach taken
to satisfy customers demands is
required.
How to address these challenges
To address this growing demand the
mobile industry is working on several
approaches;
1) Bandwidth management
Caps on the bandwidth: This is
given to over the top (OTT) content
providers and heavy users of these
services. Bandwidth management
is effective but very unpopular with
many customers and this method
risks low customer loyalty.
Adaptive bit rate streaming
protocols such as Apple’s HTTP
Live Streaming, Microsoft’s Smooth
Streaming and the HTTP Dynamic
Streaming backed by Adobe.
2) Improved hot spot coverage
Provision of local 4G small cells
(aka femtocells) either within the
home or in built-up areas: However
the bandwidth available will
struggle to provide full HD
streaming, and also requires the
user to stay local to the cell to
significantly benefit the mobile
operators.
3) Network Offload
Offloading the bandwidth needs of
streaming applications onto WiFi
LANs: This requires the user to stay
within range of the WiFi network
during the programme or film,
meaning the content defines the
users’ mobility.
Work is underway to attempt to
allow dynamic switching between
WiFi and mobile networks, but there
are many difficult technical,
financial and logistic challenges to
make this work to an acceptable
level.
Caching of content on the platforms
dedicated local memory - known as
PushVoD (Push video on demand).
This is ideal for recorded material
and allows the viewer to be
completely mobile.
Obviously, this isn’t suitable for live
events, such as sports, but by
taking the pressure off the
networks, MNOs can focus
bandwidth to this potentially very
profitable low volume video.
Figure 1 – Suitability of PushVoD for various types of AV Content
PushVoD summary
PushVoD enables true HD (1080p/
30fps) resolution content (and above)
to be delivered on demand, with no
restrictions on when or where it can be
viewed. This means operators can
take the pressure off the network and
monetise the access of this content.
Taking these benefits into account, we
see this as an increasingly mandatory
mechanism for any MNO in satisfying
customers’ demand for high quality
video on a wide range of portable
platforms.
Content Type QualityDemanded
Immediacy Push VOD Comments
News Clips Low Day ü -‐Requires regular download to be 'News' 'Normal' TV Medium Week üü -‐BBC iPlayer very succesfull within this window
-‐Low quality streaming possible over G3/4 GSMLive Sport Medium/High Minute û -‐Not applicableFilms High Month
(Release windows)
üüü -‐Based on latest releases + preferences.-‐New DRMs now being deployed to allow (legal) distributed storage of HQ content
YouTube Medium Week orMonth
üüü -‐Typically 'browsing' behavour with friends-‐Can be predicted as 'Most watched', etc.
A significant opportunity but there is competition
There has been an increasing overlap
in the in the business interests of
traditional MNOs, ISPs (internet
service providers) and TV operators
(Satellite, Cable or IP) as they attempt
to bundle packages for their customer
base:
• Triple play (TV, phone and internet)
• Quad play (TV, phone, internet and
mobile phone)
As MNOs involve themselves in
activities that are traditionally the
domain of TV operators (and vice-
versa) there will be significant
opportunities to exploit the
infrastructure primarily put in place to
support the customers’ TV
subscription services – in particular
the move to home gateways (aka a
server-client architecture).
Figure 2 - Move from PVR to Server-Client Architecture (Cable Variant)
PVR Based Platform Server -‐ Client PlatformSmall HDD for each PVR (<250GB) Large HDD acting as AV ‘Home Server’
(>4TB)4Gbps capable USB3.0 interfaces for ultrahigh speed peripherals and external HDDs
Cable Modem & WiFi only for Internet access Integrated LAN access to both AV data & Internet
Each PVR completely independentNo PVR content visible via home network
All Home Server content visible to clients
CA termination within each STB CA termination within server & content streamed to clients using DTCP-IP
Large incremental cost for each TV Simple/cheap IP only client required.
Increasingly clients can be "SW only" for TVor mobile platforms.
Exploiting the TV operators’ move to server–client architectures
TV operators are shifting from a PVR
based system, with set top boxes for
each TV, to a server client platform,
which has one central media server
connected to all devices (see figure 1).
This has been caused by four key
elements:
• The high costs associated with supporting multiple TVs within the same subscriber’s home
• The increasing consumer demand for smart TVs and Blu-ray players / set top boxes that have internet features
• The relatively low cost of adding client software onto the powerful application processors of these smart TVs… as well as the smartphones and tablets
• The acceptance of the light DTCP-IP encryption standard by studios for the streaming of HD content within the home
A 2011 Parks Associates report
predicted the prevalence of client-
server platforms to rise rapidly,
growing from less than 20 per cent
today to over 50 per cent of the market
by 2015 (figure 2).
As subscribers to Quad Play operators
increasingly have these servers
present within their homes it provides
an opportunity to operators to exploit
them for mobile PushVoD applications
– seen by users as a PVR on the Go.
Figure 3 - Growth in Residential Gateways -
Enabling PushVoD on a mobile platform – PVR on the go
The above factors means that
PushVoD is being seen as an
increasingly attractive commercial
opportunity.
It capitalises on the emerging
presence of server-client architectures
within the home and the increasing
flash memory storage capacity within
even low-end smartphones.
And there are five key steps required
to roll-out successfully.
1) AV content from multiple sources
(studio films, TV, sports events and
video clips) are continuously
aggregated, compressed and
encrypted using content protection
(DRM) and conditional access
standards (CA) that are compatible
with the set top boxes and TV clients
within the customers’ homes… as well
as mobile platforms.
It is now commonplace for content to
be viewed in HD on even smartphone
screens. This may increase from
1080p to 4k format as TVs (and
possibly tablets) shift to these
increased screen resolutions.
2) Using an analysis of the customers’
personal viewing habits, combined
with actively subscribed series,
appropriate content is downloaded to
the large hard drive located within the
customer’s home server.
Data on the home server can be
regularly updated using an always-on
internet connection and by exploiting
correctly prioritised P2P (peer to peer)
technologies - or other methodologies.
Furthermore, by combining profile
information with viewing habits and
GPS data it’s possible to deliver more
accurately targeted video advertising
and, therefore, a profitable revenue
stream.
3) During a short period of time that is
convenient to the user, the encrypted
content that is believed to be of
potential interest is synchronised onto
the mobile client.
Content can be either standard TV
content, which can be viewed for free,
or premium content, for example
recently released films.
At this point the customer is free to
leave the home’s WiFi connection and
will have the content available to him
until the next sync in undertaken.
Figure 4 - Mobile PushVoD Data Flow For a Quad Play Operator
. 4) After reviewing his playlist the
customer can either immediately view
unprotected content or select for
purchase the premium content of
interest. Once purchased a central
server is contacted to both bill the
customer and provide a security key to
authenticate the content for viewing.
The very small data sizes associated
with this transaction means it could
even be achieved via SMS, meaning
virtually no strain is placed on the
mobile network and customers could
activate the premium content even in
areas where only 2G signals are
available.
5) The customer is then able to view
the content when they would like;
where they would like; and most
importantly at the highest quality with
no buffering or distortion, whatever the
status of either WiFi or mobile network
reception.
High-speed video transfer is
essential for success
For this process to work effectively,
the transfer (step 3) must be perceived
by the customer as a trivial,
instantaneous task. This in turn
requires a mechanism capable of the
very rapid wireless synchronisation of
very large amounts of data, and
matches well with that possible using
gigabit capable 60GHz technology.
Figure 5 - Step Change in WiFi Performance Required – recommend check figures
For current WiFi technologies
(802.11n WiFi) would take
approximately 2hrs to complete the
sync, consuming 30 per cent of the
battery’s charge. However, the next
generation of WiFi technology, called
WiGig or 802.11ad is already starting
to hit the market and this technology
uses the 60 GHz band to deliver 7
GHz of bandwidth, meaning the same
task would complete in approximately
45s and consume just 2 per cent of a
smartphone’s battery charge.
ABI Research predicts that by 2016
approximately 40 per cent of the 3.5
billion WiFi chipsets will be Tri-band,
implementing the 60GHz band
alongside the 2.4 and 5GHz bands.
This means that the vast majority of
high-end mobile phone subscribers will
have access to this technology. This is
particularly relevant as a 2011 study
demonstrated that people with
premium handsets such as the iPhone
are more likely to pay for apps and
other content.
Additionally, all home servers and
gateways being shipped now have a
4Gbps capable USB3.0 interface,
which allows super speed peripherals
like WiGig compliant dongles, to be
added prior to the technology’s full
integration in later models.
If we look back to figure 3, we can see
that, whilst at home, the user still has
the option to stream content from the
home server’s HDD, directly from the
internet or as a conventional client
connection (point 6).
Mobile WiGig Added Value Features
1) Display content on large HDTVs
Smartphones and tablets, such as
Google’s Nexus 10 tablet, are
increasingly being shipped with the
micro-HDMI high-definition video
connection included. This gives an
uncompressed, but secure, connection
from the smartphone to an HDTV and
allows its content to be displayed on a
large high-resolution screen. This can
be video, audio or photo content
captured on the smartphone itself or
downloaded from the internet / home
server.
By using uncompressed content
protected by the high definition copy
protection encryption standard (HDCP)
the user can be confident content that
can be decoded on the smartphone
can also be displayed on the HDTV.
The major disadvantage of the HDMI
standard is that it requires a connector
that is only useful for the video
connection to the TV. For the
manufacturer, this adds cost to the
smartphone design and it takes up
valuable board space on the edge of
the platform. For the user, it requires
them to carry the correct cable.
However, with the very high data-rates
possible with the WiGig standard
wireless interface it is possible to
transmit uncompressed video up to
1080p at 30fps directly to the HDTV
using the same 11.ad WiFi standard
interface used for the PushVoD AV
data download –without the need for
cables.
2) Fast syncing of multimedia
Most high-end smartphones now
feature megapixel cameras; 8MP is
common, Sony has three models with
12MP and above and Nokia has a
41MP cameraphone, the Nokia 808.
Furthermore, digital SLR and compact
still cameras often deliver resolutions
greater than 20MP.
The WiGig interface is able to transfer
the resulting stills and HD video
content rapidly to the home server or
PC for editing, viewing and archiving in
the cloud.
Indeed, the WiFi Alliance anticipates
that digital still and video cameras will
integrate the WiGig standard as a
result of the rising image sensor
resolutions.
3) Increased profit margins
One of the key benefits for TV
operators in the move to a server-
client architecture is that the hardware
to support the software (CPU, GPU
and security IP) are already available
on high end TVs as well as laptops,
tablets and smartphones. The cost to
the operator in deploying multiple
clients is close to zero, meaning
increasing their margins.
We see a similar situation for the
provision of WiGig connectivity on
these retail clients as customers
search for models that support the
next generation connectivity and with
the largest available internal memory.
And while it’s true initial smartphone
deployments may need to be seeded
by the mobile operators, this will
quickly be seen as a mandatory
feature with the costs rolled into the
monthly contract price.
4) Public servers and content
kiosks
As a second stage of the technology
roll out it is anticipated that operators
will add WiGig Sync & Go capabilities
into the small cell devices, which are a
key part of the 4G roll-out – initially
these small cells will be located in
crowded areas such as railway
stations and coffee house, and this
would allow customers to quickly
download and purchase films or TV
programs, as well as perform cloud
based back-ups of holiday videos and
photos while away from the home.
Summary: monetizing PushVoD
The MNO has two major incentives for
using WiGig enabled PushVoD to
provide HD video services to its
customers.
The primary benefit of PushVoD is that
it allows MNOs to offload video
content from the network. And, by
reducing the need to increase the
overall data capacity of their network,
MNOs can significantly reduce the
capital investment required, increasing
the return on investment.
This is a particular relevance in
countries such as the US, where
attempting to guarantee countrywide
coverage for video streaming over the
whole mobile network, which covers
nearly 10 million km2 each, would be
prohibitively expensive.
The secondary benefit for MNOs is
revenue from the sale of premium
content. In the case of content
obtained from the operator controlled
home gateway, the MNO is able to
charge its subscriber for the
authentication (unlocking) of any
premium content purchased.
According to Asymco data, nearly 60
per cent (145m) of Americans over 13
had smartphones as of July 2013.
And, according to 2012 data from
comScore, a quarter of smartphone
users download pay to download video
content on this platform or their tablet
device. As the typical cost of a newly
released feature film is in the region of
$5 (£3.50), this gives a considerable
stream of revenue for MNOs, be it
from one off payments or via
subscription.
For widescale customer adoption, a
fast transfer speed is essential and
this means the adoption of 60GHz
technologies, in particular WiGig. This
is being integrated into WiFi chipsets
and, therefore, phones, tablets, TVs,
Blu-ray players and smart TVs.
For further information on Blu
Wireless’s 60GHz silicon IP and how
to implement it for WiGig technologies
visit
www.bluwirelesstechnology.com/wigig.
Blu Wireless Technology Ltd
The Engine Shed, Station Approach
Temple Meads, Bristol, UK
www.bluwirelesstechnology.com