Mobile video is very popular. In fact, it is predicted to become very much more so in the future with the expectation that it will account for up to 69 percent of total mobile traffic by 2018. Demand is driven by subscribers who want to take content like news programs and favourite TV series with them wherever they go.
As discussed on the Wilson Street blog by Habib Nouira, Product Marketing Manager, Alcatel-Lucent, LTE broadcast is enabling operators and internet service providers (ISPs) to meet this need. They are also exploring how the technology can expand their coverage areas, reduce customer churn, cut costs, and grow revenue.
As Nouira explains, often LTE broadcast is talked about just in terms of helping operators save money on bandwidth when delivering multimedia content, especially video. But this technology enhances the user experience and benefits operators in other ways, too.
For example, it positively impacts operator business models by making it possible to deliver linear content broadcast, meaning continuous, scheduled television streamed over wireless networks. Rather than the bandwidth expense involved with unicast for in-house TV service, mobile operators are turning to LTE broadcast.
A related benefit of 4G LTE broadcast for mobile video is that operators can deliver to places previously impractical—such as using repeaters, distributed antenna systems (DAS), or small cells in dense urban areas to cover basements or subway trains.
This setup means that even in areas out of reach of antenna towers, users can still get online, make voice calls, and receive LTE broadcast.
Deployment of LTE broadcast systems for mobile broadband further benefits operators and users by making it possible to set up temporary TV networks for events. Such networks are used for event-specific content (interviews, presentations, keynote videos, etc.), delivered over a connection with dedicated spectrum and guaranteed bandwidth from a wireless provider.
This same type of local network can and is also used by first responders or emergency services during natural disasters and other events majorly affected the public. Replacing current generation mobile radio networks with LTE broadcast would given first responders multimedia capabilities and allow them to be more effective.
Finally, let’s not forget about advertisers; LTE broadcast is an attractive marketing tool for them, too. When combined with location-based data, this technology makes it possible to target and deliver multimedia ads much more effectively.
