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Cloud Gaming – How does it impact TELCOS?

Within the huge development of Cloud Gaming, Telcos are right in the middle, putting all their infrastructure and technology at the service of gamers who need high speed, low latency and quality of connection to ensure a 100% enjoyable exp…

By gerardotorres

TL;DR

Within the huge development of Cloud Gaming, Telcos are right in the middle, putting all their infrastructure and technology at the service of gamers who need high speed, low latency and quality of connection to ensure a 100% enjoyable experience.

Key takeaways

  • Since early 2019, incredible news has been announced about the path that the video game industry has been taking firmly.
  • While it may not come as a surprise, it is now clear that there is a battle between Google Stadia and Microsoft Xcloud, two giants of technological innovation.
  • They are in a race to offer business models that are more attractive to gamers.

Since early 2019, incredible news has been announced about the path that the video game industry has been taking firmly. While it may not come as a surprise, it is now clear that there is a battle between Google Stadia and Microsoft Xcloud, two giants of technological innovation. They are in a race to offer business models that are more attractive to gamers.

Moving services to the cloud is a must-go-through phase toward the digital transformation. Learn the main benefits and challenges of cloud projects, and which resources and security factors you need to consider on our video blog Why Moving to the Cloud?

Just like we pay Netflix to access movies and shows, we can also do it for a video game portfolio, moving away from traditional business models where a console and games are acquired separately.

According to a study by STATISTA, the cloud gaming market that reached USD 45 million in 2017, will reach USD 450 million by 2023. Apple (Apple Arcade), Sony (PlayStation Now), Shadow, Steam, Nvidia, among others, are expected to join this trend. Meanwhile, Amazon (Twich) and YouTube have noticed that broadcasting and streaming video games are increasing on their platforms, so they have also invested in them.

A lot is happening, but where are Telcos in this scenario? They are right in the middle, putting all their infrastructure and technology at the service of their clients to ensure that these experiences can be enjoyed 100%.

When talking about heavy users, we are going to find them in this space of video games — demanding higher speed, lower latency, and better connection quality. One point to keep in mind is that the consumption of bandwidth for online video games (and even more with multiplayer), is much higher than just watching a Netflix movie in 4K. Let’s check out the numbers.

Netflix and any other online audiovisual content service, even transmitting in 4K, requires a minimum of 25Mbps with images of 20 to 30 fps (frames per second). With an internet package superior to this, we can enjoy the service without problems.

But what about today’s video games? Video games have many more requirements regarding bandwidth and transmission speed. Let’s take a look at the specifications that Google Stadia already announced:

  • For 720p video quality, it requires a minimum of 10Mbps.
  • For 4K video quality, it recommends 35Mbps or more.
  • For 1080p and 4K, it is already accompanied by audio in 5.1 surround.
  • In all cases, it indicates that the images to be transmitted will be at 60 fps (frames per second).

The latency in the network should be as short as possible since video games are executed in real-time, and this requires an outstanding response speed for each interaction made in both directions. The recommended speed is between 100 and 150 ms of response, but the optimum is between 50 and 60 ms.

Now, if we are a group of friends playing at home, but the rest of the family is watching a movie on Netflix and someone else is having a video call via WhatsApp or Skype, what would happen to the internet connection?

Telcos must be prepared for this type of requirement, which will continue to gain more strength as this consumption normalizes among users.

Moving services to the cloud is a must-go-through phase toward the digital transformation. Learn the main benefits and challenges of cloud projects, and which resources and security factors you need to consider on our video blog Why Moving to the Cloud?

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