Faster video streaming for the smartphones and tablet era

In the smartphones and tablet era, more and more users are watching videos on the move – with a resulting strain on mobile networks. The combination of the HEVC video compression standard with LTE brings networks welcome relief.

Whether on a long train journey, sitting in a café or lounging at home on the sofa, smartphones and tablet computers allow us to watch videos anywhere and at any time.

As convenient as this development is for users, it also throws up some problems. Because the downloaded video files are usually very large, they are increasingly putting too much strain on mobile phone networks. There is a reduction in image quality and videos take a long time to load. Sometimes users are even forced to take breaks while watching videos, because data cannot be downloaded fast enough.

New types of data transfer are needed if networks are going to be able to cope with this onslaught. And this is exactly what researchers at the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) in Berlin are working on. ''We are combining the new LTE mobile communication standard with the HEVC video compression standard, taking the best parts from both technologies,'' says Dr. Thomas Schierl, group manager at the HHI. But what exactly lies behind these shiny new acronyms?

LTE mobile communication standard
Cell phone calls, websites, and videos are currently transmitted using the UMTS standard. However, LTE, which stands for long-term evolution, is now replacing UMTS.

If for instance an iPhone is displaying a ''3G'' connection, this means it is using UMTS. In future, connections are set to become faster: then 4G or LTE – depending on the provider – will be displayed. Initially, LTE achieves speeds of 100 megabits a second.

Future rollouts will see speeds rise all the way up to 300 megabits a second. By comparison, the maximum UMTS speed is 28 megabits a second. As a result, tablet computers using LTE can load content about three to four times faster.