Video traffic is soaring, and it's shaking up the mobile marketplace -fast. With the arrival of 5G networks moving ever closer, the shift towards mobile video could be seismic. So how can you take full advantage?

The video revolution is happening all around us, and touching every part of our lives. According to the latest Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI), global IP video traffic will grow threefold from 2015 to 2020 -a 26 per cent annual growth rate.

Facebook just announced that it's paying$50 million to media companies for live video content. The social media giant has partnered with celebrities, media companies, and other partners for breaking news, live programming, and more.

Network video is playing a huge part in the Internet of Things (IoT), too. It's appearing everywhere from connected cars to smart cities and retail environments.

A new, better network

How can mobile operators keep pace with the video explosion? Most of them are already looking ahead to the next generation of network technology -5G. The most obvious advantage of 5G is bandwidth. Promising speeds of one Gbps or better, 5G will deliver more than enough power to handle even ultra-high-definition (UHD) traffic.

But there's much more to video than just bandwidth. Mobile operators need a network that can deliver high reliability, plus very low latency. A 5G network will deliver both.

To get the most out of any new technology, you need a flexible, intelligent network architecture that will deliver the experience your customers want. Security can be an issue for mobile video content because you need to apply digital rights management (DRM). Your network security must be able to protect communications and data, as well as provide control over who can view it, and on which network. When demands change, your network needs to be automated and nimble so that it can scale up or scale down quickly.

The window of opportunity

Timing is all-important as well. Verizon and AT&T are expected to start rolling out their 5G networks in the U.S. in 2018, and the first handsets will start appearing in 2020. You'll want to be ready to seize the opportunity, and start seeing a return on your investment as soon as possible.

Luckily, when it comes to mobile video, you aren't faced with an 'all or nothing' choice. With careful planning, you can build a network platform that will be ready to deliver 5G features when the market's ready. A creative approach to video can go a long way toward helping you maximize your market share and profits. T-Mobile has shown that it's possible to give consumers affordable access to the mobile video apps they want, on the device they choose.

One thing that seems certain is that the demand for video will only grow, becoming 82 per cent of all consumer internet traffic by 2020. It's up to you to make the most of it.

Find out more

To learn more about 5G and the awesome possibilities it offers all areas of your mobile provision, check out our video here. Want to know more about delivering great video? Find everything you need in our white paper.