The growth of online video streaming provider Netflix might prove a challenge to operators offering their own content platforms, according to a recent article. But the challenge isn’t simply that of a new competitor entering the market. Instead, increased demand for video delivery could well place a strain on network capacity – particularly when users try to access content over mobile devices.
LTE-enabled devices can offer a realistic alternative to fixed broadband propositions, particularly in rural areas where fibre deployments are less likely to occur. This could mean that a significant proportion of users access high-quality content over LTE dongles. In all cases, the network operator needs to consider how to ensure that users maintain an optimum experience at all times.
Operators need to plan for this and to consider how they can deliver an optimum experience and how they can add value that potentially, can result in higher subscription fees – irrespective of whether they are providing the content or if it comes from an OTT player.
That means deploying solutions that can manage and ensure service quality from end-to-end: from the home or preferred location across the network. With users increasingly demanding high-performance services, the ability to monitor and control specific applications to ensure they attain required performance levels will be a significant asset. And, it will be a key part of any offers operators develop to guarantee service performance with enhanced fees: operators won’t be able to charge a premium if they can’t deliver on their promises.
