EKT announced a partnership with INFRATEL to bring advanced AI-powered video optimisation technology to pay-TV operators, broadcasters, and content providers worldwide.

The collaboration enables operators to substantially reduce video file sizes and streaming bandwidth requirements while maintaining compatibility with existing MPEG-4 and HEVC workflows, devices, and networks. By intelligently analysing video content and focusing on the most visually important details, INFRATEL’s technology delivers significant efficiency gains across content storage, distribution, and delivery infrastructure.

As operators face increasing pressure to manage network costs while expanding content offerings and improving viewer experiences, the combined EKT and INFRATEL solution offers a practical way to lower operational expenditure without requiring costly infrastructure upgrades.

Meet EKT and INFRATEL at IBC Amsterdam

Visitors to IBC Amsterdam are invited to meet with EKT and learn how AI-driven video optimisation can reduce operating costs across VOD delivery, DVB distribution, DVB-NIP deployments, OTT deployments, and next-generation content networks.

The solution demonstrates how operators can maximise the value of their existing infrastructure while preparing for the future of IP and hybrid video delivery.

Key Benefits for Operators

Edge-Cached VOD Optimisation

For operators deploying edge-cached Video-on-Demand services, reducing VOD file sizes directly lowers local storage requirements within set-top boxes. As memory costs remain a significant component of device BOMs, this can deliver substantial savings.

In several deployments, storage requirements have been reduced from 256GB to just 64GB, enabling lower-cost hardware configurations while maintaining the same content catalogue and user experience.

DVB-NIP Bandwidth Efficiency

DVB-NIP introduces exciting opportunities for converged IP and broadcast delivery. However, operators often face bandwidth constraints when attempting to deliver a complete channel bouquet over a single transponder.

Using INFRATEL’s AI optimisation technology, SD and HD channel streams can be significantly reduced in size, enabling operators to fit a larger channel lineup within available bandwidth. In many cases, this allows delivery of a complete channel bouquet through a single transponder, reducing receiver complexity and supporting set-top box designs that require only a single tuner.

DVB Network Cost Reduction

For traditional DVB deployments, reducing overall bandwidth consumption creates multiple commercial opportunities. Operators can:

– Add more channels within existing capacity

– Introduce additional HD services

– Improve spectrum efficiency

– Reduce satellite or terrestrial transponder costs

– Lower overall content distribution expenses

OTT CDN Cost Reduction

For OTT deployments, reducing bandwidth consumption for each profile not only provides a substantial CDN saving but also allows to reach viewers who do not enjoy broadband connectivity.

Combined with EKT’s portfolio of advanced set-top boxes and connected devices, operators can achieve meaningful savings while maintaining high-quality video delivery.