Cloud-based OTT is Changing the Game for Telcos’ Delivery of New Entertainment Services

Thijs Bijleveld, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Metrological

Network service providers (NSPs) are scrambling to deliver integrated over-the-top (OTT) TV, video-on-demand, and content experiences their customers can enjoy anytime, anywhere, and on any device they choose. But they face challenges. There’s stiff competition from over-the-top (OTT) providers, and telcos and traditional NSPs are struggling with upgrading all of the legacy equipment they have already out in the field.

That’s why a growing number of NSPs are taking a look at cloud-based technologies that enable operators to integrate TV and OTT content into a single viewer experience.

Based in The Netherlands with offices in the United States and Europe, Metrological has developed a cloud-based architecture that lets operators more easily onboard user interfaces, software plugins, content from OTT services like Netflix, and integrate those functions into a unified user experience via an open-source Web browser, such as Web-Platform for Embedded (WPE).

Integrated, cloud-based OTT services can literally cut money, months and years out of onboarding premium OTT processes that, until now, have been extremely expensive and time-consuming for NSPs. Also, since much of the set-top box’s functionality and management can be processed in the cloud rather than directly on the device, the box’s CPU resources are freed up, improving flexibility, performance and efficiency.

Technicolor is integrating Metrological’s Application Platform and the open-source WPE cloud architecture on the Technicolor 4K Ultra HD hybrid cable and IP set-top boxes. That means Technicolor’s customers can more rapidly deploy new user experiences and new OTT integrated services.

The strategic partnership between Metrological and Technicolor is well-suited. Both companies believe in integrated OTT services and open technologies. The two companies are working to provide NSPs with the solutions they need to more rapidly onboard OTT strategies and services, deliver integrated user experiences and marry their linear, video on demand and OTT services into one unified service.

Our teams work well together, enabling us to rapidly execute on joint projects. In fact, it took less than two weeks to complete the integration of Metrological’s WPE cloud OTT architecture and WPE browser into Technicolor’s set-top box.

Metrological and Technicolor are partnering on new projects that will deliver fully-integrated cloud-based user experiences. In the next few months, expect to see a series of industry firsts.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about the partnership between Technicolor and Metrological by listening to the podcast.