Nokia and Elisa conduct successful PoC on monetizing L4S with Network as Code
Nokia and Elisa Conduct successful PoC on monetizing L4S with Network as Code
As 5G networks continue to evolve, Communications Service Providers (CSPs) are looking for new ways to generate revenue. The integration of Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput (L4S) technology into 5G networks with Nokia’s Network as Code (NaC) platform provides CSPs with the opportunity to unlock new revenue streams while simultaneously enhancing user satisfaction.
How does this work?
L4S, developed by Nokia Bell Labs, is specifically designed to ensure smooth, uninterrupted streaming in congested 5G environments, such as large-scale events like concerts and sports arenas. Nokia’s Network as Code (NaC) platform empowers CSPs by providing flexible, programmable networks, enabling the support of diverse use cases, including the coordination of the use of L4S technology as network APIs.
By combining L4S with NaC, CSPs can drive innovation, reduce operational complexities, and introduce new services more rapidly, ultimately opening new revenue streams.
Proof of Concept at Nokia Arena
A Proof of Concept (PoC) was conducted at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland, to test the integration of L4S into 5G networks using Network as Code. Conducted in collaboration with Kepit Systems, a broadcast streaming company, and Elisa, a Finnish Communications Service Provider (CSP), the PoC highlighted the potential for CSPs to manage and capitalize on the L4S feature in 5G networks.
This PoC was a continuation of 3GPP Release 18 standardized L4S feature demonstration carried out earlier this year.
The video above demonstrates our Proof of Concept (PoC), where a user is streaming a live ice hockey game on a laptop connected to a 5G network managed by Network as Code (NaC). Initially, the video struggles to load and play smoothly due to congestion in the network.
The laptop is connected to a Nokia 5G radio. When the user attempts to stream the game from Kepit Systems’ L4S-capable public cloud server on a congested 5G network, the live stream fails to play properly. However, once L4S request is sent by API call to NaC, the 5G network dynamically activates L4S, significantly reducing latency. As a result, the video plays smoothly with fewer interruptions. If L4S is disabled via NaC, the effect of network congestion reappears, causing the video to freeze and buffer once again.
The successful PoC at Nokia Arena underscores the potential of Network as Code to enable and manage the L4S feature, CSPs can provide tailored solutions for applications that demand low latency and high reliability, such as immersive sportscasts or feeds for emergency purposes. This not only enhances customer satisfaction but also creates new avenues for monetization, as end-users and businesses alike are willing to pay a premium for superior performance.
