Revolutionizing Live Streaming for Aircraft with Siden’s Dynamic Streaming
As the demand for in-flight entertainment grows, airlines face significant challenges with continuous streaming of live or “linear” video. Traditionally, this model streams video content 24/7, regardless of whether passengers are actively watching or not. While this system ensures availability, it results in unnecessary bandwidth consumption and high costs, particularly over expensive satellite networks.
The Continuous Streaming Dilemma
With continuous streaming, live video is “flooded” onto the satellite network non-stop. This means that even during periods when passenger demand is low—like red-eye flights or overnight journeys—the video stream continues, consuming valuable satellite bandwidth. This setup prevents bandwidth from being used for other services, like internet browsing, and results in airlines paying for bandwidth that isn’t being actively used.
For example, imagine a long-haul flight where most passengers are sleeping. Even though the majority of the cabin isn’t watching live video, the stream persists, using up bandwidth that could be reallocated for other services, like internet browsing or operational communications.
Introducing a Smarter Way: Dynamic Streaming
Siden offers a groundbreaking alternative with dynamic streaming. Instead of continuously streaming content whether it’s being watched or not, dynamic streaming only consumes bandwidth when a passenger starts viewing. This approach allows airlines to dynamically allocate bandwidth based on real-time demand, drastically reducing costs and improving overall efficiency.
Dynamic streaming enables airlines to offer passengers live video streaming when they want it, while allowing unused bandwidth to be freed up for other services or cost savings when no one is watching. It’s the best of both worlds: a seamless passenger experience without the hefty price tag of constant bandwidth consumption.
How Dynamic Streaming Works
With Siden’s dynamic streaming technology, video content is delivered only when a passenger actively selects a channel to watch. Here’s how it works:
- No Viewer, No Stream: When no passengers are watching, the video stream is not transmitted over the satellite network.
- On-Demand Streaming: Once a passenger selects a channel, a small message is sent over the network to request the stream. This triggers the video to start streaming over the satellite.
- Minimal Delay: Although there’s a brief startup delay when requesting the stream, this approach ensures bandwidth is only consumed when needed.
- Keep-Alive Signals: While a passenger watches, small “keep alive” messages are sent periodically to ensure the stream continues without interruption.
This innovation means that airlines can reduce bandwidth usage when it’s not needed, while still providing high-quality streaming experiences for passengers who want to watch live content.
Dynamic Streaming’s Broader Impacts
Siden’s dynamic streaming solution also offers a range of other valuable features, including:
- Unicast and Multicast Support: Whether delivering streams to individual passengers or broadcasting to multiple users simultaneously, Siden supports both models, ensuring flexibility based on demand.
- Live Stream Caching: Siden allows live streams to be cached closer to the consumer, reducing latency and ensuring a smoother viewing experience.
- Dynamic Ad Insertion: Airlines can insert targeted ads during live streams, creating new revenue opportunities while enhancing the passenger experience.
- CDN Optimization: With content delivery network (CDN) capabilities, Siden ensures content is delivered efficiently, minimizing disruptions even in remote flight paths.
Siden’s Far-Edge Caching: The Next Evolution
Beyond traditional edge caching, Siden introduces far-edge caching technology, which brings content even closer to the user. This involves storing video streams directly onboard the aircraft, within ISP networks, or on ships. Far-edge caching reduces reliance on distant satellite connections, ensuring that even in challenging environments like in-flight or at sea, passengers enjoy seamless content delivery.
This innovative approach means that high-demand content can be accessed almost instantly, reducing latency and buffering, which enhances the overall passenger experience. Whether in the sky, on the seas, or across land, Siden’s far-edge caching optimizes the flow of content to meet passengers’ needs, no matter where they are.
The Future of In-Flight Entertainment
As airlines continue to seek ways to improve in-flight entertainment and reduce costs, dynamic streaming presents a compelling solution. By streaming content only when passengers are watching, Siden helps airlines lower their bandwidth expenses while still delivering the high-quality live video experiences that travelers expect.
In an industry where every bit of bandwidth counts, Siden’s intelligent caching solutions transform how content is delivered, saving airlines money and improving service quality.
Ready to transform your in-flight entertainment?
Contact Siden today to learn how dynamic streaming can enhance your passengers’ experience while optimizing your network’s efficiency. Together, we can redefine connectivity and revolutionize in-flight entertainment.
About Siden
Founded in 2018, Siden is at the forefront of revolutionizing connectivity in the aviation, maritime, and home broadband industries. Siden optimizes connectivity platforms through intelligent caching to provide end-users with more content from a wider array of partners, all in higher quality and without escalating network costs. Siden’s innovative approach not only boosts user satisfaction but also optimizes network efficiency, reducing operational costs for service providers.
