A consortium developing an Internet video broadcasting platform has received a R14.5 million boost from the Department of Science and Technology.
The consortium consists of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Durban-based Internet service provider East Coast Access (ECA).
According to a CSIR statement, the parties will join forces to develop a commercial-grade Internet video broadcasting platform with integrated advertising for low bandwidth network infrastructure environments, as found in developing countries.
The three-year, R14.5 million investment comes from the department's Innovation Fund.
"The aim of the investment is to see the product through from research to market implementation of commercial applications, such as entertainment content with video advertisements," the CSIR says.
Lead project co-ordinator Keith Ferguson, a principal researcher at the Meraka Institute of the CSIR, will also oversee the development of the system design of the core media server software and part of the video research.
Anice Hassim of ECA, a black economic empowerment company, will be responsible for the work on the Web-based market-facing interface. Anthony Chan and Mqhele Dlodlo will lead the research at UCT and will be responsible for the supervision of two PhD and two MSc students who will research specialised areas of adaptive multimedia broadcasting.
The CSIR says the project will deliver a smooth Webcast in varying network conditions found in low-bandwidth environments and other technically and infrastructurally constrained networks.
Ferguson explains: "Real-time live video delivery services offer immense potential for social transformation in developing countries where resources and expertise are scarce and narrowly focused in urban areas. Currently, SA and other developing countries are characterised by limited Internet access, with broadband available only at high cost to subscribed users."
The goal is to complete the software implementation and have an operational pilot site in about three years' time.
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