Ericsson launches fully virtualized video processing platform

NEW DELHI: Ericsson has created the foundation for all IP and cloud native delivery models with the launch of Ericsson MediaFirst Management Controller and Ericsson MediaFirst Encoding Live 8.1.

The fully virtualized processing solution, which makes its debut at NAB Show 2017 in Las Vegas, enables operators to capitalize on consumer demand for new services in areas such as UHD, virtual and augmented reality, along with new revenue generating opportunities like dynamic ad insertion.

"Operating on any platform including pure software, common off the shelf (COTS) server hardware, private and public cloud, the flexibility breakthrough addresses complex configurations by taking control of all processing elements, using a service-based approach that secures operations and optimizes service quality,"  a statement said.

Elisabetta Romano, Vice President and Head of Media Solutions, Ericsson, says: "We are making it easier to monetize services and drive down processing delivery costs throughout the entire content lifecycle. Management Controller and Encoding Live 8.1 are pivotal enhancements to MediaFirst Video Processing, the media industry's most complete video processing solution. With these launches, Ericsson simplifies operations for content owners, broadcasters and service providers by enabling the move to complete virtualization across the media processing delivery chain."

Building on the company's 25 years of pioneering video compression expertise, and in close collaboration with its customers and users, Ericsson MediaFirst Management Controller simplifies the transition to software-based architecture, providing a unified access point for Ericsson MediaFirst Video Processing products including Encoding Live, On Demand, Packaging, and Stream Processing.

It allows operators to move away from a restrictive, monolithic approach towards a more agile service-based allocation, which streamlines application management and deployment across many services and clusters. The new management platform offers centralized visibility, configuration and control, along with flexible failover and licensing management for MediaFirst Video Processing applications; it can also adapt to dynamically changing environments, whilst balancing cost control.

MediaFirst Video Processing Encoding Live 8.1 enables faster content deployment, drives operationally efficient delivery, and delivers more immersive consumer experiences than ever before. This newly introduced version offers a truly unified microservice architecture across all platform types, and includes centralized management, integral failover, and dynamic licensing benefits, together with faster video transcoding and industry leading density when deployed on a platform incorporating Intel's Quick Sync Video (QSV) dedicated video hardware core.