Better Broadband Blog Articles in December, 2011

Dec 22

Posted by Don Bowman in Applications, Broadband General, Broadband Trends, Mobile Data/Mobile Broadband, New Technology, Uncategorized on December 22nd, 2011 | 3 Comments

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Twice a year, Sandvine publishes our Global Internet Phenomena Report, which provides network operators, as well as subscribers, an in-depth analysis of what is happening on both fixed and mobile networks across the globe.

The research we conduct for the study gives a great snapshot of what is currently happening on broadband networks, but we thought it might be fun to take some of that insight and mix it with what we have been hearing from network operators, to make some predictions for 2012.

So without further ado, here are Sandvine’s five broad(band) projections for 2012:

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Dec 6

Looking for Real-Time Entertainment? Xbox Marks the Spot.

Posted by Matt Tooley in Applications, Broadband General, Broadband Trends, New Technology, Subscriber Quality of Experience, Uncategorized on December 6th, 2011 | No Comments - Reply Now

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As we reported in our Fall 2011 Internet Phenomena Report, 55% of all Real-Time Entertainment traffic in the United States now goes to devices other than PCs. By far the biggest driver of that traffic is Netflix, which users can access on tablets, smart TVs, set-top boxes, and game consoles.

Examining data from Sandvine’s Netflix Rising report released in the Spring, the Xbox 360 accounts for almost 25% of Netflix’s total traffic on fixed access networks. This figure demonstrates that subscribers are more than willing to use their Xbox 360 as an entertainment hub and the list of video providers made available to them on that device is set to grow substantially.

Beginning today, Microsoft will be rolling out a software update that will offer Xbox 360 owners (at least, those who pay $60 a year to be Xbox Live Gold members) access to a wide range of both on-demand and live video content on their TV .

IPTV is not a new feature on the Xbox, as Microsoft had some limited partnerships with select communications service providers and channels such as ESPN. With this software update however, Microsoft is making an even bigger push by forming partnerships with some Internet and media heavy-hitters such as Verizon, HBO, BBC, Rogers, and YouTube, just to name a few.

Access to certain content will differ based on country and Internet provider due to licensing restrictions, but Microsoft is certainly trying to have the Xbox 360 be the one-stop shop for all of your home entertainment needs, and the only device you need connected to your TV.

With over 57 million Xbox 360s sold worldwide to date, how many of them are on your network? The number of owners and the number of soon-to-be-available live streaming options will present unique challenges to network operators. Live video demands a high Quality of Experience (QoE), and traffic optimization options such as caching are limited for live video. Operators will need to ensure their networks are engineered for quality because, while the Xbox may be among the first devices to offer a wide range of live streaming video, it is unlikely to be the last.

We will be keeping a close eye on how users adopt this new service, and will aim to bring some insightful data on subscriber usage the near future.

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Dec 2

If a dry faucet leaks, is it a leak?

Posted by Don Bowman in Applications, Broadband General, Broadband Trends, Network Neutrality, Subscriber Quality of Experience, Uncategorized on December 2nd, 2011 | No Comments - Reply Now

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We’ve seen some recent press stating that WikiLeaks plans to release documents from three Canadian companies named on the SpyFiles website, of which, Sandvine is one (there are many companies on the list, some involved in and some unrelated to the topic). We’re puzzled why we’re named on this list, and moreover, puzzled as to which documentation could be considered secret files. What Sandvine does is out in the open and is clearly explained on our website:

Sandvine’s network policy control solutions focus on protecting and improving the quality of experience on the Internet. Our award-winning network equipment and software helps DSL, FTTx, cable, fixed wireless and mobile operators better understand network traffic, manage network congestion, create new services and revenues, mitigate traffic that is malicious or undesirable to subscribers, deliver QoS-prioritized multimedia services and increase subscriber satisfaction.

Our Global Internet Phenomena Report is an example of the type of data that our network equipment enables ISPs to collect. Many of our customers and many in the industry, find these insights valuable, as they allow for proactive capacity planning of Internet networks, enabling fair use connectivity and a high quality experience for the end subscriber. Download it and read for yourself. Feel free to contact us directly with any comments or concerns, we would be more than happy to discuss.

We’ve long been fans of transparency and are public industry advocates for government proposals that seek open and equitable Internet access. It’s all there for you to read. No need to bring a bucket.

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