Ericsson on Tuesday launched the Ericsson Media Delivery Network (MDN), which it bills as a complete solution for the delivery of video over IP. According to the company, the Ericsson MDN is designed to allow operators to deploy solutions that overcome issues caused by increasing video traffic on their networks, and supports multichannel TV, VOD and OTT content from the same core infrastructure. By combining a content distribution network with Ericsson's broader TV portfolio, the new solution will, the company says, also enable operators and broadcasters to drive new revenues from the growth in video traffic, without increasing network costs. The company says that the MDN includes solutions for distribution and delivery, caching, storing, streaming, transcoding and the content management system; and also enables targeted advertising and fast channel changing across any platform to any screen.
According to Ericsson, IP video is expected to represent over 90% of network traffic in the next few years (currently, the figure lies at between 35% and 60%, depending on the country). The company says that the amount of over-the-top video traffic carried in operator networks will grow significantly as consumers demand a higher-quality and on-demand experience, as well as "endless" content choices within an "unbound" connected world. "Online has become an established method for video watching because it allows you to share your favorite programs and clips with others," Giles Wilson, Ericsson's head of TV technology, said in a prepared statement. "Enjoying video no longer ties you to your home but it brings challenges to the operators who have to carry the traffic on their networks. Through our MDN solution we created a platform for the 'all video' future in which anytime, anywhere, high-quality, personalized watching on any device is key, whilst helping operators to efficiently carry the increased traffic in their networks."
