Kontron, a global provider of cloud and carrier-class integrated hardware platforms, has partnered with Anevia, a leading provider of OTT and IPTV software solutions, to offer a robust edge caching technology designed to reduce video traffic in the core network for operators and improve quality of experience (QoE) for viewers. The solution targets content service providers (CSPs), telco operators, broadcasters and OTT service providers.

Due to the exponential growth of mobile video content consumption, service providers and enterprises are seeking better ways to manage video network traffic. 5G networks are driving greater video consumption, leading to a large amount of traffic in the network that could result in lower-quality end-user experiences. In response, Kontron and Anevia have collaborated on a solution for media and telco markets to embrace a distributed network architecture as a means to offload video retrieval tasks from the core and move the related data processing as close to end-users as physically possible.

The combined offering runs Anevia NEA-CDN® software on Kontron’s ME1100 mobile edge computing servers that are compact enough to fit into street cabinets – closest to where the viewers of the content reside. The benefits of having a distributed offloading solution that performs most of the video caching at edge locations – near mobile phones, tablets, laptops etc. – are numerous, including lower CapEx and bandwidth costs, easier scalability, and better user experience due to reduced response times.

The robustness of the ME1100 series makes it particularly appealing for operators looking to unlock cloud-computing capabilities within the radio access network (RAN) or enable demanding applications such as artificial intelligence, data caching, ultra-low latency, and high-bandwidth edge applications, amongst others. The ruggedised hardware form factor is designed to withstand extreme temperatures, operate in harsh environments and seamlessly adapt to the CSP’s virtual infrastructure to deliver broadcast-quality video to end subscribers.

“Telcos increasingly want to optimise the use of their existing infrastructure by investing in smaller delivery nodes that they can easily add to their geographically distributed facilities” explains David Tencer, Product Owner, Anevia. “We’re proud to provide a joint video caching solution that allows them to simply expand the edge of their network, instead of having to change what already works.”

Anevia’s NEA-CDN v5 is the first cloud-native private CDN solution. It provides operators with a centrally orchestrated and elastic CDN, designed to scale on small caches that can be added and removed seamlessly and cost-effectively to follow the changing needs of viewers.

“With this kind of solution, everybody wins,” says Bertrand Foulon, Business Development Manager, Video market, Kontron Communications. “We look forward to working closely with Anevia not only to help operators get really close to their customers at a lower cost, but also reduce response time and improve customers’ viewing experiences.”