2019 predictions from Openwave Mobility: OTT outstrips Pay TV, Mickey Mouse starts streaming and 5G gives operators a headache

REDWOOD CITY, California(13 Dec 2018)

Openwave Mobility, the market leader in mobile data traffic management solutions, today released its predictions for 2019. These predictions are based on some of the findings from the Mobile Video Industry Council - which includes Tier 1 mobile operators: Deutsche Telekom, EE, KPN, MTS, Orange, Telefonica, Telus and Vodafone along with key industry analysts ABI Research, Analysys Mason and Strategy Analytics. 

• OTT subscribers surpass traditional PAY TV consumers – impacting traditional advertising models

John Giere President and CEO says: With the launch of 5G in 2019 and more gigabit internet deployments, OTT content is easier and faster to access than ever. By the end of 2019, globally, there will be more OTT subscribers than traditional pay TV consumers. Unsurprisingly, mobile will gather pace but as an additional screen not a replacement. 5G could even be regarded as a video distribution network because of the sheer volume of video and with the APIs 5G offers, it will deliver a wealth of data for advertisers and content providers to truly transform the future of mobile video. 

• HD will be 60% of mobile video traffic in 2019

Matt Halligan CTO and Head of Engineering commented: “Mobile video growth is a given, but what many operators did not anticipate was the exponential growth of HD content. In fact, through 2019 it will be the growth in HD, as much as longer viewing times, that drives growth in video traffic on mobile networks. In 2019 there will be yet more streaming services. Already Apple, WarnerMedia and Disney+ are expected to launch. Of course that will bring joy to millions of subscribers but its sobering news for mobile operators who have to handle the increase in traffic and the ensuing encrypted protocols that could wreak havoc on Quality of Experience.” 

• 4G RAN congestion is 5G’s collateral damage in 2019

Indranil Chatterjee, SVP of Products, Sales & Marketing added: In 2019, 5G will be in the hype cycle, but many operators would be busy internally trying to architect 5G networks. 4G networks and in particular 4G radio networks will be bursting at the seams as user appetite for data will heighten next year. This will lead to inferior QoE, especially when it comes to video streaming as users gauge network quality based on their video experience. Operators who are savvy about tackling RAN congestion and QoE with efficient, cost effective solutions while preserving CAPEX for 5G deployments will come out on top.

• In 2019. data management in 5G could be a rude awakening to many

Aman Brar VP of Global Solutions & Global Alliances concluded: Everyone’s talking about what 5G and IoT can do for operators, but relatively few operators have addressed the fundamental changes that 5G means for data management. 5G’s service-based architecture means that operators require a common data layer that can store diverse data like fast-changing session data to long lasting subscription data. In 5G, operators are faced with ‘stateless’ Network Functions – i.e. services that do not store data from one session to the next but instead rely on common external data management. 

About Openwave Mobility

Openwave Mobility, an Enea company, empowers mobile operators to manage and monetize encrypted traffic. Based on the industry’s most scalable NFV platform, our solutions alleviate RAN congestion, create new revenue opportunities and unify subscriber data. The company provides solutions for mobile data optimization, targeted promotions and subscriber data management.

About Enea

Enea develops the software foundation for the connected society. We supply open-source based NFVI software platforms, embedded DPI software, Linux and real-time operating systems, and professional services. Solution vendors, Systems Integrators, and Service Providers use Enea to create world-class networking products and services. More than 3 billion people around the globe already rely on Enea technologies in their daily lives. Enea is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.