ZTE Builds Commercial OTT Sites for China Mobile

OTT TV Becomes Essential for Operator Development

OTT TV integrates IP video transmitted through TV sets, PCs, and mobile terminals with internet applications. OTT TV is designed for interactive audio-visual services and incorporates the internet, multimedia communications, and other technologies. OTT TV provides video, information, and gaming on any terminal at any time and at any place.

A benefit of OTT TV is that providers do not necessarily have their own networks but can provide services through the physical networks of other operators. With continuous investment in video by internet providers, telecom operators are under great pressure to develop services. Operators are investing heavily in bearer networks, FTTX and LTE, and broadband services are being continually upgraded. However, operators are discovering that despite these improvements, ROI is decreasing. Incremental development of services has failed to bring the expected profits. Improved network bandwidth and content has actually compounded the problem by increasing demand for video, but rapid changes in the market development also create opportunities for operators.

ARPU can be increased by improving bundled voice and broadband through multi-screen OTT video services. This increases profit from video traffic.

The ultimate goal of multi-screen video is to acquire user entry points. Operators grasp mobile phone entry points and TV entry points by dominating in terms of pipe resources and video products and also by using bundles. With the advantage of an existing user and domination of transmission pipes, operators can then strengthen their cooperation with the video industry chain and ensure their video services are given the highest priority.

ZTE OTT Video Products

After more than ten years of development, ZTE’s multimedia products are widely used by operators all over the world. According to IPTV Market Leader Report 2013 by Multimedia Research Group, ZTE IPTV was ranked number one in the middleware, VOD, and STB fields. ZTE has gained extensive experience in video system construction. ZTE’s video system uses an efficient, open architecture and has a high capacity. It covers all aspects of IP multimedia and provides end-to-end all-service solutions.

ZTE was one of the first manufacturers to develop OTT products and formulate relevant OTT specifications in China. ZTE has been cooperating closely with many licensers and content providers, including BesTV, CCTV, WASU TV, and China International Broadcasting Network. ZTE’s OTT video system has been used commercially by many operators. The system integrates all the functions of basic OTT video and provides customers with multiscreen interaction. Together with smart terminals, this system can be used to explore popular internet applications and provide an all-round service experience. 

According to the commercial OTT sites launched in China over the past year, ZTE’s OTT video systems have outstanding advantages in terms of openness, compatibility, and stability. The stability of ZTE’s OTT systems during Spring Festival boosted the confidence of customers. ZTE has built many commercial OTT sites over a short period of time.

Rapid Delivery and Stable Operation

ZTE started building an OTT video system for China Mobile Sichuan Company (Sichuan Mobile) in the second half of 2013. The OTT system was installed, tested, and put into commercial operation only half a month after the equipment arrived. The OTT system is the only one that supports two licensers in the current network. After quick cutover of users from the former licenser’s platform, this system now serves 80,000 users in 13 regions and cities.

During Spring Festival, the four VOD nodes and one live node in the Sichuan Mobile video system all performed well. There were no faults, even when the peak concurrent value reached 80% of the design capacity.

ZTE proved its strength at this critical moment. ZTE’s systems provide ultrahigh-speed commercial interconnection, and ZTE’s platforms provide the advantage of differentiation. Besides VOD and live broadcasting, ZTE’s OTT systems are capable of live TV playback, and multicast solutions for live OTT content will be available in the near future.

Because of the excellent performance of ZTE’s CDNs, Sichuan Mobile needed to add 14 CDN nodes recently. This will lay a solid foundation for large-scale development in the future.

Meeting Pressing Customer Needs

In the second half of 2013, a provincial branch of China Mobile started developing OTT video services. As OTT video became widely used throughout the province, service capacity and stability of equipment failed to meet customer needs. There were frequent jitters in live video services, which failed to run properly even after two emergency expansions.

After learning about ZTE’s excellent performance with Sichuan Mobile, the customer urgently requested the ZTE help them deal with their services in peak hours during Spring Festival. ZTE gives customer demands the highest priority. After an immediate on-site assessment, staff from ZTE’s representative office and technical experts from the product line proposed to build a commercial platform within two weeks. This platform would guarantee that the customer’s OTT video services would run smoothly.

Everything was implemented as planned. An engineering survey was conducted, and a progress schedule was formulated immediately after the meeting. The main equipment arrived on time despite logistics difficulties before the Spring Festival. The commercial platform was released on time, and communication with partners was thorough. Thanks to the efforts of all parties involved in the project, the system was cut over and put into commercial use on January 22. This was a significant feat that demonstrated ZTE’s technical strength and capacity to rapidly deliver OTT video products. The live broadcasting node on ZTE’s platform performed very well on Spring Festival Eve. With increased loading of CCTV-1 HD, the actual peak load of ZTE’s platform reached 110% of capacity, and this proved the high capacity of the main equipment.