How open caching can help improve the entertainment experience

Today, the convenience of instant, on-demand entertainment is unparalleled. It seems unthinkable that not long ago the only options were to go to a theater to watch the latest blockbuster or go to a brick-and-mortar store to rent a DVD or videotape.

From 4K movies, binge-viewing entire seasons of shows, online gaming, and even the rise of virtual reality experiences, modern audiences enjoy entertainment in many different ways all from the comfort of their home. Streaming platforms have become a cornerstone of online consumption. While some technology can help improve streaming, its exciting evolution continues, thanks to innovations like open caching.

One challenge that content delivery networks (CDNs) and internet service providers (ISPs) face is consumers expect seamless, high-speed access to content anytime, anywhere. A perfect stream is critical. Just as inconvenience killed the video store, delay, buffering or freezing can ruin the online experience. Content caching can help solve this.

Open caching and the need for speed

To keep pace with customer demands for a seamless online entertainment experience, the rise of revolutionary open caching technology is streamlining how content gets to the end user. Open caching is a simple principle: the less the data has to travel, the quicker it arrives.

Based on open specifications developed by the Streaming Video Technology Alliance, open caching works by storing the most popular content as close as possible to the end user, which is also known as content caching. By pre-positioning frequently accessed content at edge locations that are geographically closer to users, when a user requests content, if the content is found nearby, it is delivered directly to the user from the content cache, bypassing the need to fetch it from the origin server.

By caching popular shows and movies closer to the user, the distance data must travel can be minimized, thereby reducing latency and increasing delivery speed. The result is a faster response and an uninterrupted, high-quality stream without a buffering wheel. This next-generation streaming architecture can help ensure a high-quality viewing experience.

Content caching can help smooth out traffic spikes

One of the significant advantages of open caching technology is its ability to manage network traffic effectively, especially during peak times. By caching content locally, ISPs can help alleviate the strain on their networks through a more even distribution of traffic, ensuring a consistent quality of service. This capability is crucial during live sporting events or premieres of popular shows when traffic can surge.

For content providers, open caching reduces the load on their origin servers, lowering the costs associated with bandwidth and server maintenance. Open caching's ability to scale efficiently is also a game-changer for content providers. It allows them to tap into the seamless delivery of live content without the need for extensive infrastructure investments. This scalability is particularly crucial as the volume of mobile video content continues to rise. Online gaming is another market where open caching can level up the experience. Gamers demand low latency and high-speed connections to ensure smooth gameplay.

Open caching is relatively easy to implement

A key strength of open caching is its emphasis on collaboration and interoperability. By adhering to open standards, it facilitates seamless integration across different CDNs, content publishers and ISPs.

While content delivery networks have been the backbone of efficient content distribution, open caching is similar in its approach, but it takes a step further by adhering to industry standards that simplify implementation and actively engages with ISPs to ensure content is delivered as close to the user as possible. Industry organizations, such as the Streaming Video Technology Alliance, have been instrumental in developing and promoting open caching standards. These standards ensure various stakeholders can work together effectively, leveraging each other's strengths to provide the best possible service to end users.

The future of entertainment

Keeping end users and subscribers happy is the ultimate goal. Verizon's commitment to leveraging next-generation innovation such as open caching and content caching means it is ahead of the game in meeting the growing demands of digital entertainment.

Whether you are watching a blockbuster movie or a live sporting event or immersed in online gaming, the future of digital entertainment is a reliable and robust network that can be part of the future of digital entertainment and enhanced viewer experiences.

The author of this content is a paid contributor for Verizon.