Want an improved video streaming experience? Want faster delivery of higher resolution HD and 4K videos? Move to using IPv6! That’s essentially the message from Alex Deacon of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) in a recent blog post, “Delivering An Enhanced Video Experience With IPv6“. He begins:
As the popularity of video streaming services continues to grow across the globe so do the requirements for efficient and high-speed network infrastructure used to deliver them. While much work is happening in this regard, one area of focus is the global deployment of IPv6 (Internet Protocol v6).
He then explores a number of the critical aspects of network infrastructure that are solved by the move to IPv6 including potentially removing the added latency that will come with deployment of Large-Scale NAT(LSN) / Carrier-Grade NAT (CGN). He also mentions the potential for faster routing and improved multicasting, both of which can make the delivery of video faster. His key quote to me is this (my emphasis added to the latter part):
The continued deployment and use of IPv6, and the many network efficiencies it brings, is key to the continued ability for our industry to deliver high quality, high speed and high definition content to users. This will minimize video start-up wait times, reduce video buffering and enable the delivery of HD and 4K content.
As someone who consumes video content primarily through video streaming services, I very much want to have faster start-up times and reduced video buffering. It is great to see an organization such as the MPAA promoting this as a benefit of the move to IPv6.
The article is definitely worth a read … and if you are a provider of video streaming services, we would encourage you to visit our “IPv6 for Content Providers” page to learn more about how you can get started!
P.S. And if you are not a provider of video streaming services, you may want to visit our “Start Here” page to find resources to help you get started with IPv6.