Deutsche Telekom Quality-on-Demand Network APIs used to improve targeted video streaming
5G has prompted the telecommunications industry to increasingly adapt its business functions, from network operations to ecosystem partner management. Deutsche Telekom Group is leading this industry transformation as we are moving towards accelerated globalization and digitalization within and beyond our industry. The upcoming changes will be massive and will bring significant challenges, turning the world upside down. We need to ensure our industry stays on the upside to safeguard our partners’ and customers’ continued success. One of our efforts is to build a sustainable 5G ecosystem in the Application Programming Interface (API) arena, where we have been one of the first carriers to open our 5G network to our customers via APIs and offer direct interaction with it.
Opening up our network means we make data available to our customers via defined APIs, thereby providing a new data service and becoming a Telco as a Service. We’re closely working together with our customers to jointly test all APIs, getting the relevant requirements directly from them. From December 2022, we have integrated five APIs into our live network: Quality-on-Demand (QoD), Location Verification, Roaming Status, Number Verify and SIM Swap. We have since also developed several Proof-of-Concept (PoC) use cases with our partners to trial our APIs in live settings, including automated valet parking and drone flight scenarios.
Successful Broadpeak use case
Our latest PoC was conducted with Broadpeak, whose CDN software we have deployed on our Telekom Edge Cloud in Berlin. Using our partner Microsoft Azure’s Programmable Connectivity platform, Broadpeak has taken advantage of our QoD API to improve video quality and deliver a more stable streaming service to end customers. This type of API optimizes the network, ensuring the highest quality, even when the network conditions are challenging.
The PoC was conducted in our Hubraum 5G test lab in Krakow, Poland, where we tested several streaming scenarios on devices with limited network quality, which instantly improved once we triggered the QoD API. The QoD API ensured a stable connection with low latency by optimizing the traffic to the device. Our lab tests showed tremendous outcomes for streaming quality of experience. When artificially pushing the cell load to its limits, users benefiting from the QoD Network API saw smooth streaming sessions with high resolution, while everyone else experienced video freezes and poor image quality. An optimal streaming experience will delight users who watch live events such as football or tennis matches. It is also highly important in scenarios such as remote medical procedures or safety drones. Have a look at our video below.
Deutsche Telekom APIs enable network innovation
We believe that Deutsche Telekom’s network APIs can be an enabler when looking at all current fields of innovation. Opening our network, as well as the commercial launch of our MagentaBusiness API, mark our move to the innovative role of Telco as a Service, as we can offer customers new data in new ways. Partnerships are made possible and every industry with IT support can benefit, since they can use the information gained from the network to optimize their applications and thus create value-add for their end customers.
To make sure, that the APIs are easily accessible and useable we have built unique testbeds at our hubraum innovation centers in Berlin, Krakow and together with T-Mobile US in Seattle as part of our 5G Early Access Program. In 2021, we also supported the creation of the Telco Global API Alliance CAMARA, bringing together major operators across the globe, as well as the Linux Foundation and the GSMA. CAMARA’s goal is to enable seamless access to 4G and 5G network capabilities by pushing the standardization of open and global APIs.