Latency is a problem with OTT networks because they are packet-based and therefore the increased use of OTT delivery results in more inherent latency. The video stream traverses hundreds of nodes an an extensive number of systems from the production down to end user devices, and each of those systems introduces a small delay. As a result, end-to-end latency is a composite of many elements – encoding, packaging, distribution/CDNs/network congestion, protocol choices, decoding and rendering in the client device – that all affect lag and latency.
Multiple factors and combinations can increase/decrease latency such as:
• encoding/decoding;
• edge server ping, load and CPU;
• Forward Error Correction (FEC);
• player settings; and
• protocol used.