Keywords:
- Android TV, Play Store, Set-top-box, Super Aggregator, TCO;
- ABR, mABR, HLS, DASH, CMAF, DRM, CDN, Latency, CMCD, VMAF, Deep Caching, Open Caching, MEC;
- DAI, CSAI, SSAI, Stream Stitching, Ad Inventory, CTV;
- Hybrid Delivery, DVB-I, Operator App, Multiscreen, AI, EPG/Start-over/Catch-up.
Media CDNs are content delivery networks that can cope with a large peak audience and deliver on-demand video content, live events and linear television channels. The network is one of the most valuable assets Telcos have; building an On-net Telco CDN is an investment for the future that differentiates them from those using public CDN services, enabling them to get much closer to their viewers. Deep CDN edge cache servers can be deployed in telco networks near fiber access nodes, copper line DSLAM, and active mobile network towers supporting NFV/SDN (Network Function Virtualization/Software-Defined Networks) using MEC (Multi-Access Edge Computing) infrastructure. Edge servers can also go as deep as the home network and be located within a Telco’s home gateway to serve the ABR connections from the many OTT personal devices in the home: mobiles, tablets, Smart TVs, etc. Open Caching by the Streaming Video Alliance is working in that direction, with the specification for a Home Storage Open Caching Node (HS-OCN) and Open Caching for MEC. When implemented by CDN vendors and analytics providers, CMCD (Common Media Client Data) by CTA-WAVE, a mechanism based on a media playback session identifier, enables video streaming performance analysis using both client (media player) and CDN logs, helping the operator to drive a better video streaming experience.