Beyond the performance challenges of streaming media and news to their viewers, the entertainment, publishing and news industries are feeling the pressure to deliver applications and data internally from/to the cloud and across the WAN.  Caching media files near the network edge does not solve application delivery performance to internal users who depend on real-time communication, analytics, shared files and applications across a global, and often dispersed, enterprise.  Their workforce depends on bandwidth latent and time-sensitive applications, video files and data to produce audience outcomes and business results.

For example, data-driven innovation in media is accelerating everyday adding increased cost and dependency on network architectures and telecommunications carriers. One of the more groundbreaking examples of this innovation is ESPN’s LiveConnect, which utilizes data to work with clients and deliver a different advertising execution based upon the outcomes of live games and a fan’s anticipated emotional state. As the largest data-rich portfolio of sports fan insights in media, the bandwidth requirements of this outcome-based media could be astronomical.

As many managing enterprise WANs are finding, the bandwidth required for migrating data and/or rich media to and from the cloud no longer performs over MPLS services and also substantially drains IT budgets. While MPLS often transports up to 10Gbps of data, packet loss and jitter are a common occurrence — a material reliability for real-time applications.

The dispersed cloud performance and cost challenges are set to escalate – even for the average enterprise not focused on real-time data or media.  Gartner claims the average enterprise network will see a “28% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for bandwidth due to the use of cloud computing, mobile devices and video” through 2017.  High costs and high growth of enterprise bandwidth even prompted Gartner’s recommendation for enterprise CIO’s to ban “whenever possible” HD TV on enterprise networks!  

For mass media enterprises similar to ESPN, reliant on both media and real-time data, what options do enterprises have in solving the cost and performance challenges of distributing data and media applications to an ever distributed workforce?

Apcela believes competitive media publishers need to look beyond bandwidth. It is possible to the accelerate real-time data and bandwidth heavy applications while lowering bandwidth costs over a next-generation platform.

Characteristics of a next generation architecture platform include:

  • A cloud interconnected low-latency network to increase rich media and Big Data performance to dispersed sites and mobile users.
  • Congestion-free routing and the ability to optimize and prioritize terabyte-sized file transfers across the world in seconds instead of hours.
  • The ability to deploy applications and third-party data closer to users and optimize application performance based on real-time business needs.
  • Leverage software defined networking (SDN) and intelligent routing to deliver the most bandwidth-hungry applications or usage patterns over cost-optimized performance links.
  • Adaptability to support first-to-market network technologies and provision new sites with one click.

Gartner appears to agree, touting the benefits of a WAN architecture which leverages interconnections, strategically placed carrier-neutral data centers, and leveraging various carrier offerings and connection types.  

Questions on figuring out how to best utilize your network architecture? We can help you figure out exactly where to start.

 

Sources:

Slaymaker, S., & Lerner, A. (2015, October 8). Communications Hubs Improve WAN Performance. Gartner, 1-8.

Delcroix, J., Keene, I., Petr, G., Rickard, N., & Tian, T. (2013, March 22). How Cloud, Mobile and Video Will Increase Enterprise Bandwidth Needs Through 2017. Gartner, 1-18.

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