Vendor convinced that OTT players will pay operators to cache their content at the base station.
Nokia Siemens Networks has taken the wraps off an enhanced mobile CDN offering it calls Liquid Applications that combines cached applications with real-time network data to enable tailored mobile content services.
Pushing content and applications to the edge of the network speeds up the experience for end users, while tapping real-time data – such as cell congestion, or a subscriber’s whereabouts – means delivery of said content can be optimised according to the network conditions, and made relevant to the user’s location.
“[Liquid Applications] opens up new opportunities for cooperation and partnerships with OTT (over-the-top) players and app developers,” said Rajeev Suri, CEO of Nokia Siemens Networks, at a press conference on the eve of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Joined on stage by Marc Rouanne, head of mobile broadband at NSN, the two execs were adamant that OTT companies will be prepared to pay operators for the capabilities offered by Liquid Applications. It is worth noting though that mobile applications are usually cheap or free to use, so it remains to be seen how a developer would recoup the cost of having to pay for its product to be hosted on multiple servers.
Nevertheless, SK Telecom has announced that it is going to work with Nokia Siemens Networks to evaluate the performance of Liquid Applications on its LTE network during the first half of 2013. The agreement is due to be signed on Wednesday.
“SK Telecom will work closely with Nokia Siemens Networks to bring innovative changes to people’s lives by developing and applying new network technologies,” said Choi Jin-Sung, EVP and head of ICT research and development at SK Telecom, in a statement.