Network Video Optimization 101

There is a generally accepted term in mobile networks called optimization.  In this sense it usually involves tweaking the radio base station antennas in terms of down tilt, messing around with the power settings and figuring out the best combination of cell-sites that provide the best results for handover and handoff.  This and dozens of other techniques make it possible for the best sound quality and power and to make sure calls are not dropped when you’re driving at 70 mph down the highway.

For delivering video services over 3G and LTE networks a number of other considerations come into view.  Besides having to deliver high quality multimedia to a variety of devices over radio frequencies, there is the need to optimize the video to minimize the amount of bandwidth that these services take up.  This is especially needed as more and more people use video (driven by iPhone for example) and use up all the available bandwidth in a given cell site, requiring operators to deploy more radio base stations and transceivers, all of which are incredibly expensive.

Using services such as Video Network Optimization, operators can reduce the rate from say 140kbps to 110kbps while insuring no decline in perceivable video quality to end customers.  The technology behind this takes a lot of experience from companies that are experts in mobile video but can deliver great cost savings which are going to be needed as video explodes in the mobile network.

What do you think are the biggest challenges in optimizing mobile video networks?  How will the coming rollouts of LTE (as with Verizon in the US) make the need for this even more important?  What are the key technologies and techniques that can be utilized?