What are the benefits of a virtual NOC?

Virtual NOC

Remote Eye Controller

Live events monitoring

Witbe | December 9, 2024

Most video service providers rely on a Network Operations Center (NOC) where Video Operations teams monitor the source stream of their broadcasts.

This is helpful for providers to get a comprehensive view of video service's performance. However, the video quality that is sent out is not always the same quality received by viewers. Witbe’s virtual NOC, the Remote Eye Controller (REC), was built to address this challenge.

A virtual NOC compiles live streams from local real testing devices, like smartphones, smart TVs, STB, in a web app. It empowers providers to remotely access and control any device types worldwide, bringing global visibility.

For more on Witbe’s virtual NOC, check out our introduction article here.

What is a virtual NOC and what does it do?

For video service providers, analyzing the true experience that viewers receive is challenging but crucial. While source streams, traditional NOCs, and Quality of Service (QoS) metrics offer insight into the network performance of a video service, they do not reflect what viewers see and experience locally: the Quality of Experience (QoE).

Witbe’s virtual NOC can monitor the true Quality of Experience that users receive. The REC is a virtual Network Operations Center that allows teams to access real testing devices across the world. With it, you can test and monitor your service’s performanceon real devices and networks, at the furthest point in the content delivery chain. With Witbe, you can easily test and monitor viewer behavior as a human – 24/7, 365, from anywhere in the world.

Witbe’s virtual NOC: Benefits, key features, and capabilities

1- Real-time testing anywhere you need

Test, monitor, and take control of any video app or service on real devices.
Local test devices can be set up anywhere in the world where your service is operating. Remotely access your stream and service on real testing devices 24/7.

With Witbe’s award-winning automated testing technology, you can proactively monitor KPIs day and night. You can accurately analyze the video service you are delivering to your viewers, since the Witbox monitors real devices and networks. The Witbox replicates human behavior to test as a normal user and see the service viewers receive, even on DRM-protected content.

2- Display an unlimited number of devices in the mosaic

The REC features a mosaic display of live streams from all your testing devices connected to a Witbox.
It can display every testing device, live channel, VoD asset, and live event on one screen. It’s easily customizable according to your preferences, so you can find the information you need to follow up on at a glance. Take control of any device at any time from your Virtual NOC!

3- Shared technology empowering your team to speak the same language

Need to run a new test scenario to confirm that an issue has been resolved?
You can do that directly in the REC, a live monitoring app accessible by all your teams from any web browser.

With a shared workspace, all team members can “speak the same language” and easily keep track of your service’s live status – even when it’s as specific as an engineer saying: “I took control of the Smart TV in San Francisco and launched a new scenario to check if the catalog issue is resolved”.

4- Launching automated test scenarios

Witbe’s technology allows team members to launch preset automated test scenarios directly from the REC.
In the “Scenario” panel, you can launch scenarios and trigger tests. It’s easy to test the real-time availability of your TV channels, ensure your live events are being streamed correctly, or verify the full availability of your VoD catalog on a wide range of real devices.

Directly from the REC, you can trigger a test case on your video service. You’ll see live test results in the mosaic with instant alerts when your video service has an issue.

5- Receive instant streaming service alerts and KPIs

When running an pre-set test case, such as checking the VoD availability and streaming quality of a specific episode on a real device, you can see the test results and KPI metrics in real time in the REC.

For a deeper analysis, you can get all your monitoring data and results in Smartgate, Witbe’s observability platform.

Comparing virtual and traditional NOCs

A traditional NOC is a mosaic of source streams, while Witbe’s virtual NOC is a mosaic of local end-user live streams captured on real devices.

A virtual NOC is also a video monitoring shared digital workspace, making your manual and automated tests on your video services more accessible and flexible.
You can easily switch from one device to another, take control of any local devices remotely, and verify that everything is running smoothly at a glance.

The REC is also easy to deploy everywhere in the world, even for global teams working in several different countries and markets.
It’s as simple as connecting your test devices to a Witbox and launching the REC on any web browser. You will quickly be able to see all of your devices on one screen and start monitoring your video service.

The virtual NOC is your best ally to increase monitoring efficiency, improve testing capabilities, and keep viewers loyal to your service by delivering the optimal user experience.
It gives you eyes and ears on exactly what your viewers are seeing at all times.

When paired with a traditional NOC, teams can quickly identify differences between them to resolve errors with ease. It fills a critical blind spot. A virtual NOC helps you do better!

Customer spotlight: MSCTV’s virtual NOC

Mitchell Seaforth Cable TV (MSCTV) is a leading Canadian provider of unique solutions to telecommunications companies.
They were recently looking to monitor their video service quality and wanted to provide a superior experience to linear TV application viewers.

Why did they choose Witbe’s virtual NOC to test and monitor the features and content of their Pay-TV services, ensuring it’s presented to their customers with outstanding quality?

They can test their service on real devices and see exactly what their end-users see. With the Witbox⁺, Witbe’s robot, they can remotely test on local Set-Top Boxes in real conditions.
With the REC, they can control their local devices in the field to ensure they are working everywhere.

Now, thanks to Witbe, they have eyes and ears everywhere.

Don’t just take our word for it: Michael Hawkes, General Manager at MSCTV, says “Video quality is a fundamental pillar of success at MSCTV. Our partnership with Witbe ensures that we can meet and exceed our customers' expectations for an exceptional linear viewing experience.”

Read more about MSCTV and Witbe’s virtual NOC here.

Check out a virtual NOC today

As video service providers aim to meet high viewer expectations, the advanced capabilities, flexibility, and accessibility of a virtual NOC offers teams a superior video testing solution. It’s perfect for video service providers of all sizes, all over the world.