Akamai Technologies has announced the commercial availability of its predictive content delivery solutions, intended to help solve mobile video quality challenges.
The leading content delivery network (CDN) services firm says that behind its decision to launch the solution has been the continued growth of mobile video consumption which it says driving both media companies and network operators to adopt a strategy to scale the delivery of video across cellular networks to mobile devices.
The new solutions are designed to optimise secure content delivery and on-device caching to improve video quality and enable offline viewing on any device over any network.
Yet Akamai noted that the delivery of high quality and secure video to mobile devices represents some very unique challenges while users expected mobile videos to start instantly, play without buffering, and provide a highly satisfying, quality viewing experience regardless of device or location. In addition, subscribers expect content to be available even when not connected to any network.
Akamai’s predictive content delivery (PCD) solutions were designed specifically to address the requirements of content providers, video platform providers and mobile network operators (MNOs). They are available in two configurations: an SDK that can be integrated into existing or new media apps, or the turnkey, white-labelled Akamai WatchNow application. They both allow for pre-positioning or caching of new videos on the end-user device based on user preferences and viewing behaviour. This is said to make searching for content easier and allows for offline viewing.
They also both support scheduling delivery based on parameters such as on Wi-Fi networks only or during pre-defined non-peak hours alleviates the need for network infrastructure upgrades to cellular network.
“Mobile has become a critical screen for creating customer loyalty and satisfaction for online video, and Akamai’s Predictive Content Delivery solutions are designed to give our customers a powerful set of tools to help them make the most of this growing phenomenon,” remarked Lior Netzer, vice president and general manager of Akamai’s emerging mobile business unit. “Sustained user adoption is predicated on delivering an exemplary viewer experience, independent of network conditions, device type, or content. That’s exactly what the Predictive Content Delivery SDK and Akamai WatchNow Application are all about.”
Global online video platform provider Saffron Digital has already fully integrated the PCD SDK into it overall platform solution. This is designed to allow clients to deliver richer content recommendations in HD, across EST, TVOD and SVOD services, independent of different network conditions. Akamai is also partnering with Verimatrix to provide a DRM solution for content delivered to the mobile device. The Verimatrix VCAS for Internet TV solution ensures secure HLS and DASH stream delivery for over-the-top (OTT) services (including live and video-on-demand content) to all device categories.