Page 20 - EngineerIT September 2022

ICT VIDEO STREAMING

Data rate adaptation limitations of

video streaming

By Dr Keith Ferguson

his is a two-part article on the operators, there are promises of un-buffered video streaming that gets us all
background of the internet enthusiastically worked up.
Tprotocols and standards used for The ever-growing local and international video streaming services from
audio-visual streaming, including their Dstv, TelcomONE, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and many more are providing
associated limitations for congestion consumers with significantly greater content choice and the insatiable demand
control. Part 1 provides a background for higher and higher video resolutions (read data rates). All going well at this
to the buffering problem experienced point. Then, sadly, on top of this, the COVID-19 pandemic hit us and subsequently
by most mobile viewers and Part 2 (in popularised the use of interactive live streaming products including Zoom,
October 2022 EngineerIT) looks at the Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Cisco Webex, and I am sure there will be more to
newer protocols that have attempted to come. Suddenly, nearly every public and private sector of every world economy
alleviate the problem with some degree cannot function properly without these products. It is no wonder that the global
of success. Here, the reasons for these market size including the African market, albeit from a lower base, is currently
limitations are discussed. growing at a compounded annualised rate of approximately 20%, a staggering feat
in these times of depression (in both senses of the word).
Consumption growth The fortunate ones sit at home with their uncapped 100Mbits/s FTTH as the
Middle class South Africans have backhaul for their Wi-Fi router, but during ‘important’ work video sessions the
begun to ‘enjoy’ (I use this term connection still breaks up, everyone panics and switches off their video. Others using
loosely) a range of broadband their 4G wireless backhaul routers and USB dongles typically experience worse break-up
internet connectivity services from and delays. This is the point where we need to fully appreciate the operating conditions
FTTH (fibre-to-the-home), ubiquitous of the majority of our country, particularly university and school learners; with very
W-Fi, 4G and on to the growing 5G limited and unaffordable data costs, they have to try and study with a smartphone only.
technologies. Often enough, when Dashed hopes of smooth video streaming for all. (A caveat here is that FTTH
new data packages are introduced consumers do experience ‘bad moments’ far less frequently, but I think we all get the
to the market by (mobile) network point.)

EngineerIT | September 2022 | 18