New coding standard could reduce data use for video streaming by 50%

A new video coding standard called VVC could cut data use for videos in half, and works with all resolutions from SD to 8K. — Reuters

A new video coding standard offering improved data compression has been released, which could halve the data needed to transmit videos.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, which researched the H.266/Versatile Video Coding (VVC), said in a report that it reduced data requirements by around 50% relative to the previous standard H.265/High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC).

It added that the new standard would not compromise visual quality either.

VVC would be compatible with all video resolutions including SD, HD, 4K and up to 8K, and also support high dynamic range video and omnidirectional 360° video.

The Institute said VVC was developed with ultra-high-resolution video content in mind, so it was particularly beneficial when streaming 4K or 8K videos on a flat screen TV.

It added that the effectiveness of the standard would save significant international bandwidth as compressed video data make up 80% of global Internet traffic.

Of that traffic, the previous video standards – H.264/Advanced Video Coding (AVC) and H.265/HEVC, which are still being used in over 10 billion devices worldwide – processed over 90% of the total global volume of video bits.

According to Fraunhofer HHI video coding systems group head Benjamin Bross, it took nearly three years to develop the new VVC standard.

The effort was also assisted by industry partners including Apple, Ericsson, Intel, Huawei, Microsoft, Qualcomm and Sony.

“Because of the quantum leap in coding efficiency offered by VVC, the use of video will increase further worldwide. Moreover, the increased versatility makes its use more attractive for a broader range of applications related to the transmission and storage of video,” he said, in a press release.

Fraunhofer HHI video coding and analytics department head Dr Thomas Schierl said the Institute “will publish the first software (for both encoder and decoder) to support H.266/VVC” by autumn.

Meanwhile, the new chips required for the use of the format were also currently being designed, the report added.