WideCast

Over-the-top content eats your bandwidth, yet pays you nothing. You don't own it, but you are responsible for it and if users have a bad experience, they call you.

Today, consumers consume their content a-la-carte: anytime, anywhere and on any number of devices. As new devices are introduced and changing usage patterns, increase in congestion in the network, how does a network operator compete and differentiate its broadband services?

Enter WideCast from BTI

Key Benefits:

• Serve content to your customers faster
• Improved quality of experience for your customers
• Save your bandwidth by moving popular and frequently requested content closer to your customers
• Easy to use, easy to manage

What is WideCast?

WideCast is an industry-first content aware networking solution that integrates i) wirespeed Ethernet, ii) L4 Application Routing and iii) Transparent Caching in a compact 4RU Network device that distributes content locally in access networks — right to where it is needed. WideCast’s transparent caching technology automatically stores and locally serves any content that is frequently requested within a defined geography. That’s the top 20 YouTube videos, software updates, Netflix, streaming sites and game data files. The session between the consumer and the content owner is preserved during this process, so neither the content nor the consumer is ever highjacked. This overcomes a significant issue with other caching technologies, providing a very simple and low cost operational deployment model.

Closely tied to BTI’s packet optical capabilities, WideCast is part of an overall portfolio that allows service providers to operate and grow networks effectively: enabling efficient use of network bandwidth complemented with the means to pay-as-you grow for additional network capacity.

The solution provides out-of-the box support for traffic management and caching of popular sources and types of Over the Top (OTT) content, in any network environment, and with no manual configuration needed. The system is self-learning — once the system is powered, provisioned, and integrated into your network it takes care of the rest based on the subscriber base it serves. Simple to use, simple to install as close to the consumers as you need — your network operations centre, or right in individual neighborhoods in telco cabinets.

Suddenly, control of the most popular and most frequently requested content is right where it needs to be — in your hands.

WideCast™ news:

BTI Systems Enables Service Providers to Cash in on the Edge
BTI Systems' WideCast Nominated for a TelcoTV Vision Award
BTI Systems Unlocks Video at the Edge with WideCast™ Content-Aware Networking
BTI Systems Announces Expansion Investment to Accelerate Next Phase of Growth

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Download Data Sheet View WideCast Features

WideCast Features

• WideCast monitors, identifies and routes multiple requests for the same content locally, classifies on the basis of file type, and assesses the requests based on download frequency, size of file, last download, and other factors.
• Once assessed, frequently requested—popular—content is stored locally, whereas infrequently or rarely requested files will continue to be sourced from farther back in the network.

• When requested again, WideCast determines whether the requested file has been previously stored and determine the integrity of the content to ensure that it is valid, up-to-date, and what the subscriber requested
• If cached locally, WideCast commences streaming or downloading the file to the requesting subscriber(s)
• Since it is a transparent caching solution, only the sourcing location for the content is changed. This preserves all application logic of streaming and download services and networks, and all collected subscriber information (# of views, likes, dislikes, etc.) continue to be transmitted back to the originating source of the content
• Provides access to rich WideCast Traffic Analytic Reporting that enables you to better understand content sources driving usage of your network investments.

Customer Satisfaction & Reduction in Broadband Services Churn

• A 7x improvement in end user throughput realized in production environments
• A reduction in complaints and customer service requests due to service complaints
• A noticeable reduction in subscriber churn based on a satisfactory online experience — delivers a sustained revenue base

Network Savings

• 20–30% peak bandwidth savings realized in production environments
• Positioned at the edge of the network, bandwidth savings defer or reduce the requirements for aggregation and core network infrastructures
• Overall reduction in Internet peering and transit costs based on frequently requested content being sourced within your network, opposed to over your Internet connection

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Download Data Sheet View the FAQ

WideCast FAQ

1. What is WideCast?
2. What is Over-The-Top Content?
3. What is Over-the-Top Content’s impact on Service Providers?
4. How Does WideCast work to address Over-the-Top Content?
5. What is Transparent Caching?
6. How is WideCast different from Content Delivery Network service offerings?
7. How is WideCast’s transparent caching different from most proxy cache solutions?
8. How is WideCast positioned in the network?
9. What’s the Value of a WideCast Content Aware Networking Solution?
10. What’s the Digital Millennium Content Act (DMCA)?

What is WideCast?

WideCast is BTI’s Content Aware Networking Solution for service providers to gain control of Over-the-Top Content Delivery and provide a path to monetization of Content Delivery Services. As the first truly integrated network based solution that is a turn-key capability for traffic management, transparent caching and network capacity — that is delivered in a 4RU solution and enables the network to utilize bandwidth more efficiently to address Over-the-Top (OTT) content delivery. The solution addresses popular sources of OTT content including YouTube, peer-to-peer files sharing like music and podcasts, operating system and antiviral updates, and HTTP downloads such as user manuals and product brochures; the technology automatically redirects / stores and serves content that is frequently requested from an integrated Cache while allowing non-cached traffic to continue to transit at wirespeed. WideCast provides an “in the neighborhood” source for this content that reduces network bandwidth requirements across all aspects of the service delivery network and — based on its proximity to the subscriber — improves the User Quality of Experience (QoE) as well. With transparent caching, versus other technologies, the session information between the subscriber and the original content owner is preserved during this process ensuring WideCast is a digital copyright-friendly solution.

What is Over-The-Top Content?

Over-the-Top (OTT) content encompasses many types information sourced over a subscriber’s broadband Internet connection. Its most popular form is video, also known as Internet TV or TV over Broadband, where subscribers view content such as YouTube videos, popular TV shows from network websites, and on-demand movies direct from studios. The key difference is that this content bypasses traditional providers of TV services and isn’t broadcast—it’s there when a subscriber wishes to view it. Note that OTT content is much broader than just video (although video is definitely the most bandwidth-intensive) and includes:

• Flash video services (YouTube, Yahoo Video, MSN Movies)
• Software updates (operating system and anti-virus)
• Peer-to-peer file sharing (music, podcasts, NetFlix)
• HTTP downloads (user manuals, product brochures)

What is Over-the-Top Content’s Impact on Service Providers?

With OTT content requests, a subscriber is utilizing their Internet connection more effectively and for longer periods of time; this has a compound effect on the network as subscribers’ requests are aggregated, causing network congestion. Traditionally, the approach to address bandwidth growth, reduce congestion, and ensure customer satisfaction is via incremental network overlays and increased Internet transit capacity driving increased network CAPEX/OPEX. In addition, congestion and oversubscription impact consumers directly with a poor User Quality of Experience (QoE) where, If the situation persists, a competitive market, lack of long-term subscriber contracts, and local number portability make it very easy for subscribers to transition to other offerings, in search of a higher quality Broadband services offering.

How Does WideCast work to address Over-the-Top Content?

WideCast is a transparent cache solution that can be placed at the edge of the network. It provides a locally-positioned source for frequently accessed content that makes more efficient use of available network resources and improves response times to subscriber content requests. BTI’s WideCast is a key component in our OTT solution focused on distributing content and content acceleration functionality much more than it currently is. WideCast provides an “in the neighborhood” source for frequently accessed content to reduce network bandwidth requirements, saving CAPEX/OPEX, and improves the user Quality of Experience (QoE) through rapid response to content requests and command and control actions.

What is Transparent Caching?

Transparent caching’s fundamental difference relative to other caching technologies is that it is a new strategy specifically designed to address recently introduced regulatory measures around digital content such as the Digital Millennium Content Act (DMCA). WideCast’s transparent caching solution preserves the application logic behind cached content for streaming and download services with respect to subscriber and viewing information. Transparent caching specifically means:

• Information (like the number of views for popularity analyzing) continues to be provided to the originating server
• The solution validates with the original source when a request comes in to ensure the locally-source content is current and has not been removed or changed
• There is no need to arrange agreements with content providers because it is truly transparent to the information exchange process

How is WideCast different from Content Delivery Network service offerings?

WideCast is an investment in your network to address the growing bandwidth requirements of OTT content instead of a growing service charge that will rise with OTT demand. WideCast can also be positioning much closer to the consumer — which saves bandwidth across your entire service delivery network as well as reduces transit costs for Internet access. Dependent on your OTT strategy, WideCast may be complementary to services (especially those focused on live content or commercial content streaming), that typically reside further upstream in the content delivery chain.

How is WideCast’s transparent caching different from most proxy cache solutions?

WideCast’s transparent caching approach provides several distinct advantages relative to proxy-based solutions where requests are terminated at the cache and web servers are not aware of the request. With a proxy cache, the web server loses all visibility to the content requests and viewing information, this is not the case with transparent caching where the source server still receives all user, session information.

• Connections from a proxy cache will appear to originate from its IP address, leading to inaccurate utilization and popularity metrics — with Transparent Cache the integrity of the content source is maintained for utilization and popularity metrics
• Proxy-based methodologies cannot always guarantee if the content is current or not whereas transparent cache always has a relationship with the source content that is current.

These points mean that proxy-based strategies may be in violation of new regulatory measures where the content provider must not interfere with the technology that returns “hit” information to the original source providing the material and comply with content “refreshing” guidelines. For more information on WideCast, please download the white paper. You can find it here

How is WideCast positioned in the network?

The WideCast Solution includes packetVX, integrated Layer 4 application routing that redirects only cacheable content requests within Internet streams and the Transparent Cache in a single integrated solution. This approach ensures that latency-intolerant, non-cacheable, and realtime traffic such as VoIP, live video streams, and e-mail will bypass the cache at wirespeed. Secondarily, in the unlikely event that the transparent caching platform fails, content requests revert to their original source meaning there is no loss-of-service.

What’s the Value of a WideCast Content Aware Networking Solution?

WideCast lets service providers make efficient use of network capacity, optimize content handling, and provide a simplified approach that converges multiple layers of functionality to one platform. It provides 20–30% network bandwidth savings and since it’s positioned at the edge of the network these savings are realized from the edge through to Internet transit peering points— where transits service charge savings to this same level are also realized! Subscribers also benefit with a 7x improvement in end-user throughput which drives a reduction in complaints and customer service requests, and delivers a sustained revenue based through reduced subscriber churn.

What’s the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)?

The DMCA was passed into law in the United States in 1998. It has been designed to address issues of copyright protection that are unique to digital copyright. While the DMCA contains provisions forbidding the circumvention of digital protection, the DMCA allows caching to be applied to networks within certain parameters — making it legal to replay any type of content sent over the Internet. WideCast is fully DMCA-compliant and thus service providers to comply with the DMCA automatically — without manual/costly content management.

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