Learn more about how CDN (Content Delivery Network), or content delivered through the network, has created a new way to watch soccer games.

The Qatar Championship is already happening, and it promises to stand out not only for its unusual venue in the Middle East.  The technology levels present

on global broadcasts via CDN (Content Delivery Network) will revolutionize the content transmission industry.

If you subscribe to any of today’s applications to watch your favorite movies and series, you might have already noticed that it’s still possible to watch a few soccer games and other sports – both national and international.

This means sports via CDN – a trend which has increased around the world and is expected to continue growing.  To give you an idea, according to research there has been a 30% viewer increase in soccer games broadcast in this manner between 2020 and 2021. In fact, the tournament’s own organizer is already studying a platform to offer this service.

How does a CDN network work?

While in satellite transmissions communications occur between the source of information and its distribution, in network broadcasts this flow is optimized. After all, there is no need for a network of receiver antennas that process the satellite signal.

CDN takes the information from the source to the internet, bringing content closer to the final user.  The nodes to which information is replicated from the point of origin is accessed, generating less delay than in a satellite transmission. In that case, this information is comprised of the images coming from the stadium.

This form of transmission also prevents the user from losing part of the game in case of failures.  If there’s a connection problem in this node, the device accesses the following one, where content is located.

For the broadcaster, the resource used in streaming has high availability and is able to meet large peaks in demand, which can reach up to ten times the normal volume of traffic.

In general, the nodes are in data centers to offer the logical and physical security the service demands.  Low latency, critical for offering and consuming content through streaming, is always needed.  In fact, this should make an even greater difference as 5G advances in the country.

CDN Benefits

The broadcast of Qatar Championship via CDN brings several benefits to those consuming this content. Especially when compared to satellite, as its broadcast is subject to climate changes that influence the quality of the signal.

Furthermore, depending on the service hired by the broadcaster of the game, you can replay your favorite shot from a live game. After all, the content can be stored, depending on the type of broadcast hired. You only need to position the player’s bar on the right spot, as in any video available through streaming.

Soccer through streaming also makes it accessible from more devices.  Rather than watching the game only on TV, the viewer can watch it from the smartphone, computer or tablet. In other words, it’s useful for those using public transportation at the time of the games, for instance.

In Smart TVs, by the way, applications enable fans to watch their favorite sports with premium quality image. Today, Full HD is the top standard supported by free-TV broadcasters. On the other hand, applications can exhibit games in 4K – something only offered through more expensive Pay-TV plans.

Infrastructure is critical

With so many benefits from CDN, especially for the end user, those producing content need to count on a reliable partner to deliver all this information throughout the world.

Therefore, it’s important to verify if the company analyzed counts on a server in the IP backbone, in key-points of pairing; cutting-edge cache in ISPs, and threshold options to help ISPs manage large software download events more efficiently.

In addition, the partner must ensure a robust delivery capacity, as the one offered by more than 2400 cutting-edge servers, in 95 POPs, for a total delivery capacity of 170 Tbps. Besides, you must also count on a high-level team: at least 25 people to deliver quality content.

This is all to ensure that the time difference between the soccer ball entering the net in the stadium and viewer’s celebration is the minimum possible.

Author:

Eduardo Freitas
Senior Director of Connectivity, Media & IP
Cirion Brazil

With more than 30 years of experience in the TI and Telecom sector, he is part of Cirion’s team since 2004 and is responsible for developing new business in areas related to media and online content transmission. He has occupied several management positions in Strategic Marketing, Communications, Products, and Sales.  Eduardo Freitas has a degree in Electric Engineering from UFMG, an MBA from FVG Management, and a DGE from the Instituto Superior de Empresas – IESE.

In July of 2022, 5G technology officially arrived in Brazil, initially in the country’s capital, Brasilia.  However, according to Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency), by the end of September every capital in the country should have the fifth-generation network.

For the corporate market, this is an important milestone as it opens up a huge range of possibilities for technology advances while presenting new challenges along the way.

One of them is latency.  With a new protocol offering greater speed and shorter response times companies will need to meet this demand, since delays in process execution will increasingly result in lost business opportunities, especially where data centers are concerned.

Considering this new scenario, listed below are some trends to be followed moving forward:

Changes in single-mode optical fiber

The increased flow of data through data centers will also demand hardware implementations, and optical fiber cabling will be crucial. Today, the most common type is the multimode optical fiber, through which light travels with several reflection points inside the cable.  On the other hand, in single-mode, it travels through a single fiber core, and can cover greater distances.

This is the cable best suited for flows of up to 800 Gbps and should be the choice for data centers that are currently being built. The downside of this type of cable is that it’s a higher-cost solution.  

IoT Enhancement

More bandwidth equals more connected devices, expected to optimize processes, and increase operational efficiency through real-time data collection and processing, which will significantly demand more from data centers.

To give an idea of how the Internet of Things (IoT) segment still has space to grow in Brazil, IDC forecasts show that this market can reach up to US$1.6 billion in 2022, which would represent a 17.6% increase when compared to the previous year.

The cloud is still relevant 

Driven by the pandemic, cloud computing should maintain its growth pace. With several companies deciding to continue with their home office policies, cloud-native applications for telecommuting are multiplying.  According to an article from TI Inside, 51% of IT expenses will migrate to cloud solutions by 2025.

In addition to edge computing, another obvious 5G trend is hybrid cloud growth, as a result of the increased security needed to store the sensitive and strategic data that this type of solution offers.  Even more so, considering the General Data Protection Act in force.

Expertise will be key 

The arrival of 5G promises to boost the demand for infrastructure companies that have data centers and the reason is simple: expertise.

Managing a data center isn’t an easy task, especially because it isn’t a slam-dunk. It is a job that demands a heterogeneous support team, composed of different expertises to deal with the variety of technologies on a daily basis, as well as constant monitoring  and a well-established preventive maintenance schedule.

Data centers can also accommodate infrastructure customizations that are critical to customers’ businesses in all industries, and they allow economies of scale which enable the final costs to be more competitive than maintaining the structure in house, for example.

Another characteristic of these centers is the great number of connected telecom companies, enabling data signal distribution and reducing latency.

Security beyond logic 

Protecting data and counting on dozens of firewalls and other digital security solutions are not the only aspects that need to be addressed by an efficient data center.

Its physical integrity is equally important and must include a fire suppression structure, with state-of-the-art hardware working at lower temperature margins to mitigate this risk. This brings us to another issue: sustainabiliy.

More power-efficient equipment requires less efforts in cooling technologies and lets the company be more selective regarding the kind of electricity it consumes, preferring to acquire it from renewable sources.

A well-planned and managed data center is key to offering low latency and everything else a customer needs to take advantage of all opportunities presented by 5G, regardless of its operational model: colocation, hosting or hybrid cloud solutions.

Author:

Rodrigo Oliveira
Business Director, Data Center, Cloud & Security
Cirion, Brazil

With over 30 years of experience in the Data Center and Telecommunications industry, Rodrigo brings Cirion customers the guidance needed to leverage technology in the expansion of their businesses. He worked in several multinational companies in Brazil, and helped build Diveo’s operation in the country. He was also president of UOL Diveo’s Colombia division, where he conducted the sale of the affiliate to Riverwood/Synapsis. He was also in charge of Matrix Datacenter.

In the 21st century, time has become increasingly scarce.  With innovation occurring every day right beyond our eyes, we have less time to assimilate what the new solutions are proposing for our daily lives.

With that in mind, how is it possible to be on the cutting edge while taking advantage of a technology’s every feature as soon as it becomes available?  The key words are “think ahead”.  During the pandemic, I observed a true revolution in the IT sector.

More than a “workaround” to meet urgent demands, we’re talking about platforms and tools that are becoming an almost inexhaustible source of resources for companies.  Such is the case with data transmission via Scalable Networks.

Virtualization and beyond with Scalable Networks 

Virtualization is one of the main benefits of transmitting data through Scalable Networks.  This concept, which is the basis of cloud computing, consists of enabling companies to create virtual computers that use both their operational systems and their applications in a machine which physically doesn’t exist.

This is also reflected in gains of up to 81%, as a result of network activity and better use of time to reduce operational costs.

In addition to optimizing physical space, the concept also offers a safe environment for testing new applications, since the virtual computer will not suffer from crashes caused by hardware stress. This also makes the entire set safer against the loss of data and information.

Virtual machines streaming data through Scalable Networks also count on other benefits, such as an 82% optimization of application performance, while the incidence of application problems is reduced by 25%.

Another benefit is to simplify automation and perform system management based on remote clouds (SD-WAN), optimizing workflows, and ensuring better performance and productivity.

Security and flexibility with Scalable Networks 

Over the last two years we observed several investments on speed and robustness to ensure simultaneous access to sites and mostly, to videoconferences.  However, an important field in company’s digital infrastructure is security.

Using Scalable Networks in data transmission can increase connection security by up to 53%, which is very important for corporations of different sizes, as ensuring the confidentiality of treated and stored data becomes a priority, based on Brazil’s General Data Protection Act (LGPD, in the acronym in Portuguese).

Data transmission via Scalable Networks also enables connection flexibility, meaning that your company can efficiently scale the amount of bandwidth consumed on specific applications and services, which helps in provisioning speed and managing costs.

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, thinking ahead and being in the cutting edge of innovation means taking full advantage of what a new solution can offer. In data streaming through Scalable Networks, this can be the difference between being prepared or not for scenario changes caused by different, unpredictable factors.

After all, no one was expecting a pandemic.  Still, many businesses had to adapt, and they not only survived, but also grew exponentially.

Francisco Anes
Senior Sales Director
Cirion, Brazil

Francisco Anes is Senior Sales Director for Cirion Technologies in Brazil.  He is dedicated to the mission of developing and leading people and forming high-performance teams, founded on universal values which are focused on providing the best technological solutions to support customer success. For the past 25 years, he has had the opportunity to work alongside large national and multinational companies in significant Telecom and IT projects and is proud to have taken part in the construction of the technological and connected world we live in.  He has an Electronic Engineering degree from the National Telecommunications Institute, a post-graduation in Marketing and Business Administration from FGV, and is certified in Foresight – Future Studies, by W-Futurismo.        

We are living in an era of digital transformation, evolving business environments, and a growing need for connectivity, forcing us to be constantly alert to new technologies to streamline supply models. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused companies to rapidly change their working practices and accelerated the transition to digital and cloud, underscoring the value of their capabilities for enterprise networks.  Today, WAN, SD-WAN, and cloud connectivity services are transforming the enterprise network, but what’s next? 

While most vendors have a comprehensive view of the market and its various competencies, at Lumen – named Leader in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Network Services, Global, for the second consecutive year – we believe that the key to staying ahead of the curve is to anticipate trends that will improve operations, as identified in Gartner’s report. 

Anticipate or perish 

Gartner’s prediction that enterprise data networking services will represent $131 billion this year – a 3% increase over 2021 – gives us a glimpse of the magnitude of this rapidly evolving market. Therefore, as part of our strategy, we continue our progress toward including and analyzing the seven trends below:  

1. Supply chain
   The approach is to use a visible and self-service software-based model, through portals and APIs.       

2. Operational
   Refers to the investment in continuously improving customer experience, from quoting to streamlining installation delivery times. 

3. Network transport
   We are witnesses to how Internet services are replacing MPLS lines as the primary WAN transport technology. 

4. Access technologies
   Replacement of traditional optical Ethernet lines by MPLS and internet, mainly because of their differences in prices and capabilities. 

5. Network overlay
   SD-WAN services are expected to be based only on a hybrid combination of MPLS and Internet, or simply on underlying Internet links. 

6. Managed services
   ISPs and enterprises will tend to split network management functions, thus avoiding congestion of workload. 

7. Pricing
   The downward pressure on network services is relentless, therefore there’s an expectation of reduced investment levels to compete in the market, and more opportunities for the participation of smaller providers.  

Leaders of the Future

There’s no doubt that these trends must be considered for us to continue evolving the services we offer as global network providers. However, we keep seeing changes in business requirements and buying criteria, so we must remain focused on existing needs to allow companies to capitalize on emerging applications and drive them through the 4^th Industrial Revolution.  

This is certainly a great area of opportunity for all of us looking to drive global connectivity, strengthen execution, determine plans for the future or rethink approaches.  As leaders, we must continue driving the market, aware of global needs, and developing new business models that will help us further boost the industry.

Author:

Jaime A. Durán
Director of Connectivity, Media, and IP Products for the Northern Cluster
Lumen, LATAM

Currently, more than 4.9 billion people in the world have Internet connection, representing more than 60% of the world’s population. In many cases, however, this connectivity is unreliable, either because it is too slow or too expensive, or both. 

In the realm of World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (May 17), the aspiration to achieve an effective universal connectivity becomes more evident than ever. 

Indeed, the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy for Technology, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), have announced a new set of UN goals that aim to achieve universal and effective connectivity by 2030. 

These goals prioritize universality, technology, and accessibility, so that everyone can fully benefit from connectivity.  However, as ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao noted, “Universal connectivity alone is not enough to achieve Sustainable Development Goals[1]”. 

In the world today, more than 4.9 billion people have Internet connection, which represents more than 60% of the world’s population.  However, in many cases this connectivity is unreliable, either because it is too slow, too expensive, or both.  

This deficiency makes users share devices, or, in some cases, they simply can’t take full advantage of the potential presented by smart TVs, smartphones, wearables, personal computers, or any digital service they might wish to subscribe to, whether for business or entertainment purposes. 

This reality forces us to focus on the qualitative dimension of the challenge represented by achieving universal and effective digital connectivity and understand that bringing connections to every corner isn’t enough; rather, they must be fast, robust, stable, and secure. 

By 2030, ITU objectives determine broadband connections should be greater than 10 Mb/s. For schools, these should be at least 20 Mb/s. And while technical capacity currently allows us to have fiber optic connections with speeds starting at 300 Mb/s, we are clearly reducing the gaps in terms of quality, which means that our efforts in the telecommunications industry must focus on the territorial expansion of technological infrastructure, from connecting isolated or hard-to-reach geographical areas to increasing the capillarity of connection points in urban centers. 

In addition, connections must become increasingly accessible to all.  The United Nations Broadband Commission proposes that the monthly cost of basic broadband services should be less than 2% of the monthly per capita income.  As a second step in this affordability goal, the costs for an Internet connection with minimum quality standards should not exceed 2% of the average income of 40% of the population with the lowest income. 

Fortunately, telecommunications providers generally have the technical and commercial ability to offer their customers increasingly better technologies, more access, and more attractive prices, showing that the progress toward more affordable connections for everyone is clearly an ongoing process. 

Achieving effective universal connectivity by 2030 is the ultimate challenge, therefore it is essential to steer our work toward achieving this goal, contributing to the progress of our societies.

[1] https://www.itu.int/es/mediacentre/Pages/PR-2022-04-19-UN-targets-universal-meaningful-connectivity.aspx 

Autor:
Leonardo Barbero
Senior Vice-President, Product, Access Management & Network Planning
Lumen LATAM