Verizon demos multicast technology at Superbowl

US operator Verizon Wireless demonstrated LTE Multicast technology to a private audience in New York this weekend, at American Football event the US Superbowl.

The technology offers multiple video feeds and data streams over the operator’s LTE network and allows content owners to develop a viewing experience for a mass audience.

The content can be delivered to subscribers through a single cell site or through a cluster of cell sites.

Verizon said that sports teams could offer additional or exclusive content to fans at live events or allow students on satellite campuses to attend a lecture remotely. LTE Multicast can also be used for digital signage, software and file downloads or telematics, Verizon added.

The technology is based on evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (eMBMS) standards. According to Verizon, the service uses spectrum resources efficiently to allow the same copy of content to be sent to multiple users, rather than sending multiple copies of the same content to multiple users.  This allows customers to view high-quality video content without lag time or delay.

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Infrastructure vendor Alcatel-Lucent supplied the network equipment for the demonstration on Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 devices.

Last week, South Korean operator KT announced the commercial launch of its eMBMS, which will be made available to KT’s LTE subscribers using the same device, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3.

And in November last year, Filipino operator Smart Communications said it has conducted the first successful video multicast over LTE is in Southeast Asia. When the service comes to market, Smart believes that the technology will allow consumers in the Philippines to watch lag-free live video on their LTE smartphones and tablets.