Low Latency Broadband VR Project Launched

The Broadband Forum has recently initiated a groundbreaking project aimed at facilitating the transmission of low latency data within broadband networks. This initiative comes in the form of the L4S global standard, designed to enhance the adoption of augmented reality and virtual reality services by optimizing broadband performance.

Introduced by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in response to the evolving requirements of modern applications, the Latency, Low Loss and Scalable Throughput (L4S) technology is set to revolutionize end-to-end performance. By providing immediate congestion feedback from network bottlenecks as data packets queue, L4S ensures high throughput and low latency even under network congestion conditions.

The Application of L4S to Broadband Networks project, part of Broadband Forum’s Access and Transport Architecture (ATA) Work Area, is tasked with outlining the implementation strategies for integrating L4S into broadband networks. This strategic move aims to streamline the application of ultra-low latency in broadband networks without necessitating extensive modifications to existing networking code.

As Craig Thomas, CEO of Broadband Forum, highlighted, the project will build upon the IETF standard to enable seamless integration of L4S into various network environments. This will empower software developers to focus on creating latency-sensitive applications without the need for extensive rewrites, thereby fostering innovation in the realm of low latency and high throughput applications.

Recognizing the significance of low and stable latency in broadband performance, Jonathan Newton, Vodafone and Access and Transport Architecture Work Area Director at Broadband Forum, emphasized the importance of delivering immersive experiences for applications like cloud gaming. By strategically implementing L4S capabilities in broadband networks, service providers can cater to the growing demands of latency-sensitive applications, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.