when they add an IPTV / OTT to their bundles . When viewers subscribe to more than one video service – especially when that involves OTT and linear services – it ’ s easy to directly compare video quality . They won ’ t be happy with huge differences in QoE . Providers should measure the viewer experience delta among their different services and see how they can tighten it . Three- or four-point video quality monitoring from source to player / STB can make it easy to isolate processes in the workflow where an OTT service is losing the most in terms of quality . This is especially important as live sports shift from linear to OTT . It will be important for OTT sports services to optimise viewer experiences to meet viewer expectations . Telestream : We offer Video Quality Monitoring solutions for linear and OTT workflows , so operators have single pain-of-glass across both . Programme ABC can be monitored end-to-end across both linear and OTT services at the same time , providing visibility to QoE and faults for ABC regardless of delivery method . Although the video delivery technology , and statistics , vary between linear and ABR , the overall QoE management is similar . Torque : The technology to deliver the services is very different between OTT and traditional services ( for example , IPTV , DTH , Cable , etc ). Sure , the studio and production side of transmission chain can be common , but from the encoder onwards , it is a different set of equipment , technologies and protocols . VeEX : It is all about dedicated bandwidth vs . shared data capacity , especially if the OTT services go through the Internet .
Broadcasters and telco partners have been conducting a number of 5G broadcast trials . Is 5G likely to pose fresh challenges for T & M ? Interra : Availability of 5G will affect streaming in multiple ways . Higher bandwidth will facilitate better video viewing experiences , which will prompt consumers to switch from linear TV to OTT services . 5G will make it possible to offer more 4K videos , which in turn will require more stringent monitoring and QC of those services for quality . Linear TV has been able to curtail subscriber churn based on its inherent advantage of providing uninterrupted , high-quality delivery of popular sports and entertainment programs . However , the availability of 5G is likely to tip the scale faster toward OTT as 5G will enable live streaming at higher bit rates and therefore higher quality . Mediaproxy : Whilst the US is a little more advanced with 5G rollouts , coverage is still patchy and mainly only available in major cities . The US is moving forward with parallel
16 EUROMEDIA alternatives such as ATSC 3.0 , whilst Europe and the UK continue to grow 5G availability . Even when the backend infrastructure is available , having affordable devices and services available to the majority people will continue to pose challenges . Promptlink : 5G rollouts may be delayed slightly by the Covid-19 pandemic , but 5G still poses a threat to T & M and will challenge operators who have slowed their network buildouts due to the uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 economy . Qligent : The advantages that comes with 5G aren ’ t much of a challenge from the test and measurement side , the operational side , or even the analytics side . The same is true of ATSC 3.0 in North America . Both are simply topologies to reach a consumer , and each have their strengths . ATSC 3.0 will never match the portability and individual reach of 5G , or its individualisation . Conversely , 5G will never match the one-to-many efficiency and reach that ATSC 3.0 offers . ATSC 3.0 is the most efficient way to deliver high-volume content , and especially linear content . 5G is about mobility and moving to an ecosystem where we can shape and mould the networks . Because 5G implies software-defined access networks , it also implies we can better manage our services . There is no ecosystem for ATSC 3.0 , and trials are just beginning . The 5G rollout is in its infancy , and there isn ’ t widespread penetration for serious consideration as an individual network point that needs specific monitoring . There are fresh opportunities for each with test and measurement and operational monitoring , but no particular challenges for either at this stage . R & S : 5G Broadcast-Multicast is on the verge of transforming how we consume content on the move and Rohde & Schwarz is involved in many trials around the world . During Lockdown , network operators struggled to cope with the sudden increased video content demand that absorbed their bandwidth . 5G Broadcast-
Multicast has the potential to change the landscape in how content efficiently to consumers . SSIMWAVE : Like every technology , 5G has its own challenges . Currently in Canada we are running a 5G test together with our partners from Rogers Communications , a leading and innovative service provider . The goal is to understand how different conditions affect video over 5G as well to define optimal resource allocation guidance . Our advice to telcos and broadcasters : Do not skip the important step of testing the video quality . This is quite an easy test to do and should be a prerequisite before you proceed with live service . Telestream : Telestream Video Quality Monitoring products enable monitoring of streaming video delivery regardless of the last mile physical later : copper , optical , Wi- Fi , or cellular 3G / 4G / 5G . Wireless operators will be able to offer higher video bitrates , and may have fresh challenges managing wireless content delivery for 5G , however Telestream Video Monitoring products already support higher bitrates that operators can offer across 5G . Torque : 5G . A popular buzzword , but what does it really mean ? Despite the huge hype generated in the telecom industry , the essence for ‘ TV people ’ is ‘ TV over data over a mobile network .’ The development and deployment of 5G itself has already resulted in a wide array of telecomspecific test tools , but few TV people would be familiar with any of the companies providing T & M solutions in that domain , companies like EXFO , Keysight , Anritsu , Viavi , etc . For ‘ TV over data over a mobile network ’, the operators are more like the passengers on the network rather than those steering the boat ; much in the same way OTT runs over the internet : the broadcasters have little control or insight into what is happening in the CDN or core network . So , if 5G is to provide a path to end-point viewers , from a T & M perspective , what is different from other technologies providing ‘ TV over data over a mobile network ? Nothing . The originating end of the network will be the same IP connection as it is now . Since the middle of the network is a black box to TV operators ( as it is currently ), provisioning and management of television services over 5G will have exactly the same challenges as now . VeEX : Not really . Except for RF , 5G infrastructure deployment is a combination of existing technologies such as fibre optics and high-speed Ethernet . This creates fresh opportunities for test and measurement equipment . In the end , independent of the chosen network infrastructure and transmission technologies , the final service delivered to subscribers is high-speed Internet over Ethernet . Ultimately , here is where Link , Connectivity , Speeds , QoS and QoE need to be verified .