Videoconferencing is becoming increasingly popular with companies looking to communicate and collaborate with clients, employees, and partners located throughout the globe. However, video quality performance issues can derail efforts to adopt the technology. This is where emerging technologies like software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) come into play.

The Value of Videoconferencing

A recent report from Transparency Market Research highlights the increasing popularity of videoconferencing as an essential enterprise asset. The report predicted that the global market for videoconferencing equipment and services will reach $7.8 billion by 2023. Much of this success is driven by an increasing need for affordable and scalable communication methods.

Issues in Implementation

Although many companies are taking the plunge when it comes to implementing enterprise videoconferencing, others fear that the implementation process could become expensive and drawn-out. Videoconferencing often requires dedicated bandwidth resources for the best performance and quality — a botched implementation often results in an unreliable asset that offers little value to its users.

Further, many companies have different ideas of how to incorporate the technology and what they seek to gain from it. For instance, some companies may rely on desktop-based solutions that are ideal for ad hoc meetings. Other companies may take a more centralized approach towards videoconferencing, choosing instead to install videoconferencing equipment within meeting rooms to accommodate large conferences.

How SD-WAN Gets Videoconferencing Right

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks offer the dedicated bandwidth needed for videoconferencing applications, but the limited nature of MPLS network connecting branches often hinder performance and drive up costs. SD-WAN combined with NFV offers a more dynamic and cost-effective approach that is capable of supporting Quality of Service (QoS) requirements common with most videoconferencing applications.

Through the use of SD-WAN and NFV, network administrators gain a powerful set of tools that ensure QoS and alleviate network traffic concerns.

The ability to conduct videoconferencing calls without worrying about a dropped packet or jittery images is something that users, administrators, and C-level decision makers can appreciate. Contact us at QOS Networks and learn how our SD-WAN expertise can benefit your business.