Bandwidth Management:
A Conundrum
Bandwidth Management Systems
September 2010
Competitive environment
• Fiber service operators
–
–
–
–
Lots of Bandwidth
Lots of MPEG-4 HD
High data rates
VOD
• Satellite service operators
–
–
–
–
MPEG-4 HD
Lots of HD
No data
Push VOD
• Over the Top providers
–
–
–
–
use our infrastructure for free
LOTs of content
High speed data (ours)
Social networking
2
Competitive environment
• Bundles still the big draw
– Video, Data and Home phone
– And now Cell phone, PDA, etc
• “Churn” Drivers
–
–
–
–
–
150-200+ HDs Paramount (and starting to be 3D)
Guide, presentation and user friendliness
Multi-room DVR
Data, High speeds
VOD, number of hours, number of “free” and HD titles
• Retention Drivers
– Trusted provider, i.e. straight answers, customer service,
reliability, LISTENs to what the customer wants
– More and/or better of all of the above churn factors
3
Today's Spectrum Usage
160
153 QAMs
140
135 QAMs
120
Overhead
<-860MHz
100
Telephony
DOCSIS
QAM
80
Channels
VOD
SDV
1GHz->
60
Broadcast Digital
Analog Channels
40
20
0
nonSDV
SDV
nonSDV
SDV
Unless you make the spectrum more efficient
there is little room to add services
Bandwidth needed: Where to get it?
• 90%+ of the Spectrum is occupied today by video
• Less than 10% other services (DOCSIS, telephony,
control, carousel, etc)
• Where indeed???
Video must become MUCH more efficient!!!!
• So how to do that….
Multiple Simulcasts (Plant Percentages)
6MHz slots
(“QAMs”) Used
• Analog
• to Digital SD (MPEG-2)
• to Digital HD (MPEG-2)
70-80
7-8
35-40
•
•
•
•
16-20
10-11
?
to MPEG-4 AVC HD
Traditional to IP
Linear to Time shifted
Linear to Adaptive Bitrate ?
860MHz
Plant
55%
6%
28%
89%
13%
8%
1GHz
Plant
49%
5%
25%
79%
12%
7%
110% 98%
•Assumes base formats without bandwidth
levers, e.g. no statmux, no SDV, etc.
6
Bandwidth Levers
Efficiency Increase
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Switched Digital Video (SDV)
Just in Time Service Group Segmentation
MPEG-4 AVC HD (1G & SDV markets)
3:1 Statmux
Recover unused QAM B/W (FM, Above 860, etc)
Analog Reclamation
Just in time VOD & DOCSIS support
Future ideas
–
–
–
–
–
2.8:1
3 QAMs/yr
4.6:1
1.5:1
2-6 QAMs
2-3 QAMs/yr
Varies
QAM Sharing
Video over IP
1024QAM
Deep Digital or All Digital
Reduce “legacy” multi-formatted channels: SD, Linear?
7
Bandwidth Efficiency (Multiplier)
Broadcast
Simulcast
MPEG-2
Statmux
SDV
Analog
1
-1
SD
10
-.1
1.5
2.8
HD
2
-.5
1.5
2
MPEG-4 AVC
Broadcast Simulcast Statmux
2.5
Frame Compatible
3D
Video
Over IP
2
-.5
6**
6MHz
-.2
4
SDV
9*
Frame Packed
.8
4+
5**
-.13
Assumes min. 4
Bonded channels;
300ms buffer in Settop
* Due mostly to few settops able to receive MPEG-4 AVC
**Assumes few 3D viewers as yet, when Frame Compatible that advantage is gone
8
Bandwidth Efficiency (Channels)
Broadcast
Simulcast
MPEG-2
Statmux
SDV
Analog
1
-1
SD
10
-1
15
28
HD
2
-1
3
4
MPEG-4 AVC
Broadcast Simulcast Statmux
5
Frame Compatible
3D
Video
Over IP
2
-1
12**
6MHz
-1
8
SDV
18*
Frame Packed
1.6
8+
10**
-1
Assumes min. 4
channels bonded;
300ms buffer in Settop
* Due mostly to few settops able to receive MPEG-4 AVC
**Assumes few 3D viewers as yet, when Frame Compatible that advantage is gone
9
Spectrum Usage (860MHz plant)
Spectrum Usage
140
135 QAMs
130
120
110
100
90
Overhead
80
Telephony
# of
70
QAMs
60
DOCSIS/CMAP
VOD
50
SDV
40
Broadcast Digital
30
Analog Channels
20
10
0
2010
nonSDV
2010
SDV
2011
2012
2013
2015
2016
2017
2018
Year
10
Spectrum Usage (1GHz plant)
1GHz Spectrum Usage
160
153 QAMs
150
140
130
120
110
100
90
Overhead
Telephony
QAM
80
Channels
70
DOCSIS/CMAP
VOD
60
50
SDV
Broadcast Digital
40
30
Analog Channels
20
10
0
2010
nonSDV
2010
SDV
2011
2012
2013
Year
2015
2016
2017
2018
End Point (2018+)
• 9-11 Analog Broadcaster Channels->eventually no
analog
• Digital Content format
– Linear Content: Live Sports only
– Time shifted content: All other (Broadcast, Movies, etc.)
• IP throughout the home (80% Video, 20% Data)
–
–
–
–
IP settop
Handheld (mobile, nomadic)
PCs
Video Gaming
• Marriage of Wireless and HFC?
– Possibly MicroCells using Cable distribution
12
Conclusion
No matter how big the pipe, new services will grow to
oversubscribe it:
Bandwidth Management has no end…
Thank You
• Any Questions?