Triple-Play Service Deployment

Chapter 7: Troubleshooting Video Service in the Field
The Business Case for Ensuring Video Quality
Determining whether poor video QoS performance is discernable
on more than one channel will help sectionalize problems, and
simultaneous analysis of the key QoS parameters on multiple
video flows will further refine this analysis. Ultimately, this leads to
efficient and effective trouble resolution for content versus packet
network performance. If no physical error or problem exists on the
physical interface of the test point, yet network packet issues exist,
that network segment can be eliminated as a possible cause of the
problem. Further, the VMOS score concept can greatly help in
supporting the QoE analysis specific to the subscriber. It provides
objectivity to the normally subjective area of picture quality which
helps improve process efficiency. Tools, processes, and technology
are available to ensure service delivery quality, yet additional
factors must be considered to ensure business success with video
service delivery.
The Importance of Service Assurance
Delivery of video services to retail customers is specifically
designed to increase average revenue per use (ARPU) in the face
of existing strong competition from cable operators or other
service providers. In today’s competitive landscape, the efficient
turn-up of new service and delivery of support for existing service
is critical. A service assurance program designed to ensure high
levels of video quality from the headend or VoD to the subscriber
including integrated field operations is essential. A service
assurance partner that can provide software, probes, and portable
field tools to deliver the necessary service provisioning,
monitoring, trending, and fault resolution in a coordinated,
efficient manner can play an important role in accomplishing
these goals.
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