Akamai Technology Advancements at 2016 NAB Show Designed to Improve OTT Video Quality and Service Performance

Accelerated ingest, reduced latency, predictive delivery and 4K OTT workflows highlight new Akamai products and capabilities at 2016 NAB Show

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Akamai Technologies, Inc.

Apr 13, 2016, 06:30 ET

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the global leader in content delivery network (CDN) services, today announced plans to demonstrate new capabilities at the 2016 NAB Show that can help improve overall performance of over-the-top (OTT) video services and support growing demand for 4K and virtual reality content. Accelerated ingest, latency reductions and predictive delivery will be among the highlights of Akamai's NAB Show presence in Las Vegas Convention Center booth SL3325, all of which can address rising consumer expectations and business requirements for OTT video experiences that exceed those of traditional broadcast and cable television.

Akamai's accelerated ingest capabilities are designed to minimize the amount of time live video streams take to reach the Akamai CDN from their origination point. This faster transport is enabled through a combination of user datagram protocol (UDP) based delivery and dynamic encoder to entry-point mapping (DEEM), which provides improved throughput and automatically optimizes entry-points based on current Internet conditions. Accelerated ingest is intended to help ensure the highest possible quality viewing experiences with fast start-up times, limited buffering and consistent video performance.

Accelerated ingest is among several enhancements to Akamai's Media Services Live delivery solutions that are designed to reduce latency, addressing a common concern raised by consumers watching live-streamed events. NAB Show attendees will be able to see firsthand how Akamai is minimizing the time between content capture and playback via in-booth demonstrations showing live OTT workflows from acquisition to end-user viewing devices.

Akamai is also showing predictive delivery capabilities that aim to improve viewing experiences through instant start-up of high-quality/high-bitrate video with no buffering. Available as a white-labeled application or as part of a suite of modular, client-side SDKs, the technology allows on-demand content to be pre-positioned and stored on mobile and in-home devices, overcoming the inherent challenges of delivering video over the radio access network and Internet. New content can be propagated based upon end-user preferences and scheduled for delivery within parameters such as Wi-Fi only or during known off-peak hours.

In addition, visitors to Akamai's NAB Show exhibit will be able to physically "walk through" 4K OTT workflows and see how the company's technology and services can help broadcasters deliver exceptional online video experiences. Demonstrations will focus on four key elements:

Acquisition and Ingest: Rapid ingest of raw, high-quality source signal and initial encoding that mitigates challenges often associated with the "first mile," including deeper visibility into network connectivity starting at the acquisition point.

Cloud-Based Processing and Delivery: Content transcoding and packaging for adaptive bit rate streaming in HLS and DASH formats, digital rights management, dynamic ad insertion and global delivery with minimal latency.

Monitoring and Reporting: Real-time, component-level monitoring across the full video operations workflow from encoder to playback with proactive issue mitigation and 24x7 support. The capabilities are complemented by Akamai's insight into global network conditions through its Network Operations Command Center and potentially malicious traffic through its Security Operations Command Center, providing a unique, integrated view of video, Internet and security metrics worldwide.

Playback: Live customer implementations will showcase the application of OTT best practices and Akamai Media Delivery Solutions to provide a range of online video experiences. Real-world demonstrations will include live and on-demand streaming across an array of devices and platforms, including client-accelerated delivery, 4K at 60 fps and virtual reality.

Akamai subject matter experts are also participating in several speaking engagements during the NAB Show, covering topics ranging from OTT and TV Everywhere to cloud technology and cyber security.

Will Law, Chief Architect, Media: Leadership for Key Players in the Industry, Cloud Innovation Conference. Tuesday, April 19^th, 9:40 a.m. Room S219.

John Bishop, CTO, Media: TV Everywhere: Meeting the Multiscreen Challenge, Online Video Conference. Tuesday, April 19^th, 3:45 p.m. Room N249.

Dave Lewis, Global Security Advocate: DDoS: Barbarians at the Gate(way), Broadcast Engineering Conference – Cyber Security for Broadcast Operations. Wednesday, April 20^th, 4:00 p.m. Room S228.

For more information about Akamai's activities at NAB or to arrange a meeting, please visit akamai.com/nab2016.

About Akamai
As the global leader in Content Delivery Network (CDN) services, Akamai makes the Internet fast, reliable and secure for its customers. The company's advanced web performance, mobile performance, cloud security and media delivery solutions are revolutionizing how businesses optimize consumer, enterprise and entertainment experiences for any device, anywhere. To learn how Akamai solutions and its team of Internet experts are helping businesses move faster forward, please visit www.akamai.com or blogs.akamai.com, and follow @Akamai on Twitter.