User Experience Evaluation for Video, Data, Voice, Gaming | Umetrix

Assuring video quality across mobile networks is complicated, with a myriad of dynamic challenges. These challenges can be overcome through comprehensive testing, but there are several different ways to measure video performance. Rather than analyzing packets or frames for diagnostic testing, many performance evaluation methods use pixel comparisons of the source versus the delivered video to determine overall quality. This is a common standardized method, but unfortunately it is not applicable to most Over-the-Top (OTT) streaming applications. Now there’s something new.

Mission critical communications have long relied on legacy TETRA and P25 technologies. While cellular services have evolved over the past decade to provide wideband audio, multimedia calling, and high bandwidth data connections, the first responders who use LMR (Land Mobile Radio) systems haven’t moved ahead at the same pace. But neither has cellular been ready to provide the essential critical communications capabilities to allow it to be a viable alternative.

New test and assurance platforms can create solutions aimed at helping operators and their hyperscaler partners accurately test and better manage edge-gaming use cases.

Automation is simplifying and streamlining live network field testing to assure superior performance of devices and networks.

As 5G rolls out in numerous global markets, service providers need to be sure their new networks live up to the high expectations. But as 5G technologies are radically more complex, there are important differences in critical areas of performance testing that cannot be ignored.

Video is steadily rising toward becoming the de facto standard for personal communications. Expanding beyond traditional telecommunications and cable networks, more and more players are entering the arena to deliver richer multimedia experiences capable of high-quality video calling, streaming, broadcast and virtual reality. For content providers and distribution channels alike, it is important to note that each type of video has its own unique characteristics and challenges that can greatly affect the user experience. Understanding these complexities is key.

Streaming video services are now pervasive, and with wide availability of high performing cellular and broadband networks, video-over-mobile is truly exploding. But in delivering the high-quality experience that viewers now expect, dozens of factors come into play at every stage - from servers to networks to a multitude of devices – that can adversely affect video quality.

While current public safety networks are typically voice-centric and only support very low data rates, PS cellular will deliver new multi-media experiences capable of high quality video calling, streaming, broadcast and reconnaissance. Yet each type of video has its own unique characteristics and challenges that can greatly affect the user’s experience. Understanding these complexities is key.