I’ll be attending SCTE this year, and there are a few topics that we expect will be heavily covered at the event, reflecting some of the more influential trends in the TV markets today. The standard topics will be covered as usual, including B2B Solutions, Next-generation services (i.e. cloud), Wireless networks, and Wired networks, and how the many facets of video delivery and consumption factor in. More specifically, some of the biggest topics of the show we expect will be:
· The impact of cloud throughout the video market. We’ve discussed the impact of Cloud DVR on operators and service providers already, and we continue to look at the impact of virtualization on a number of video components, including encoding, multiplexing, storage, and security. Demonstrations of Cloud DVR are expected, as well as novel implementations of cloud infrastructure in other parts of the technology stack, will be on display.
· Managing the video network flow, and the growth of IP Video and OTT. There has been much discussion of a pure IP video future, but getting there has been challenging given the differing service structures and offerings of those involved. OTT services, and thus network traffic, continues to grow quickly. Understanding the network and delivery requirements over the coming years will be critical to avoid being swamped by the influx of traffic.
· 4K content. UHD/4K content has been a talking point for a number of years now, but only in the last 1 to 2 years have we seen a worthwhile amount of 4K content available. Netflix and YouTube support 4K for some content, and some Pay TV providers are looking to offer 4K in some capacity as well. While service providers are concerned with how best to offer 4K, operators must be concerned with the substantial storage and network requirements associated (not to mention 4K security, which we have covered as well), so understanding these requirements and how best to prepare for them will be crucial.
· Wireline and the impact of DOCSIS 3.1. The demand for higher access speeds and network efficiency have brought about the latest update to the DOCSIS standard, which will be a major focus across the wireline industry. Better support for QoE features, higher speed and network capacity, and flexibility and integration with legacy devices are some of the highlights, so how companies plan to capitalize on these advantages will be shown.
Of course this is only a general overview of what will be shown at SCTE, but these topics are some of the most prevalent in the industry today. The impact of cloud and infrastructure virtualization, network traffic and bandwidth, 4K content, and new wireline delivery standards will all have far-reaching influence on the market, and understanding how to prepare for and capitalize on these changes will be a focus of all involved.
