Consensus Emerges on Urgent Need for Advanced Video Compression in Mobile Networks -- The Case for VVC
As the global technology community returns from Barcelona, which hosted the Mobile Word Congress 2025 conference, a significant amount of discussion revolved around how the rapid rise in mobile video consumption is straining network infrastructure. This is making the adoption of more efficient video compression technologies an urgent priority, according to Aytac Biber, Director of Product at Qualcomm and a board member of the Media Coding Industry Forum (MC-IF).
In a recent interview for journalists, Biber emphasized that mobile networks are approaching a breaking point due to exponential growth in video traffic. He cited industry forecasts predicting that video will account for 82% of all mobile data traffic by 2025, a major increase from 60% in 2019.
"Consumers are not just watching anymore—they're creating and sharing videos at an unprecedented rate," Biber said. "With ever increasing demand for more visual entertainment and communication, we are heading towards a serious network capacity challenge in the future if we don't take preventive actions."
The Growing Strain on Mobile Networks
Biber pointed to spectrum scarcity as one major challenge. Video traffic accounted for 73% of total mobile data traffic in 2023 and is expected to exceed 80% by 2029, with short-form video platforms such as TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels driving much of this growth. GSMA has also highlighted that even in cities with 5G deployment, network congestion remains a concern due to the rapid pace of video traffic growth.
Mobile networks rely on their limited spectrum to transmit data, and demand is quickly outpacing capacity. He referenced concerns raised by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), warning that we may have a deficit in the near future without changes in spectrum allocation and network efficiency. Operators have already made massive investments in spectrum and infrastructure. However, without adopting efficient video compression, even these investments may not be enough.
"The situation is like adding lanes to a highway, only to see traffic increase even faster," Biber explained. "Despite significant investments with spectrum and infrastructure, mobile networks could be struggling to keep pace with demand."
A primary pain point is last-mile congestion, which refers to the final stretch of data delivery from mobile networks to consumers' devices. Studies indicate that 70% of video buffering issues originate from last-mile congestion, rather than core infrastructure limitations. Urban areas, where network traffic is dense, and rural regions -- with less developed infrastructure -- face particularly significant challenges.
The Role of Versatile Video Coding (VVC)
To address these challenges, Biber and the Media Coding Industry Forum are advocating for broader adoption of Versatile Video Coding (VVC), the latest video compression standard developed by MPEG.
"VVC is a game-changer," Biber said. "It offers 30–50% better compression efficiency than preceding HEVC standard, meaning users can stream the same quality video while using significantly less bandwidth."
Among VVC's key innovations are:
Reference Picture Resampling (RPR): Allows seamless resolution switching in response to fluctuating network conditions, reducing buffering and playback stalls.
Adaptive Resolution Change (ARC): Allows encoders to signal resolution changes at specific points so spatial resolution and quality could be prioritized for scenes where it counts.
Sub-Picture Partitioning: Splits video frame into independent sections so a field of view in a panaromic video could be prioritized
Decoding Capability Information (DCI) and Low Delay Prediction structures: DCI can signal a profile and level optimized for low-latency decoding to ensure bitstream avoids high-complexity tools.
Screen Content Coding (SCC): Optimizes encoding text, graphics, and UI elements for mobile devices, improving readability and visual clarity.
Together, these features enable more efficient bandwidth usage, reduce latency and buffering, and allow operators to deliver higher-quality video experiences while better managing network congestion and resource constraints.
Biber believes these advancements make VVC the most compelling video format for content services, mobile operators and device manufacturers looking to future-proof their products and services against rising video demand.
The Role of Mobile Operators and OEMs
Biber stressed that mobile network operators are crucial for last mile delivery which is the most significant bottleneck for getting video bits from a server to consumer device.
"In the U.S. alone, Verizon and AT&T have spent more than $120 billion on spectrum auctions since 2020," he noted. "Beyond spectrum, they are deploying innovations like network slicing and edge computing to prioritize video traffic and improve efficiency."
While it is common that mobile operators are not the service operators who would encode and service video content, their stance and advocacy for industry adopting the latest compression standards from MPEG can positively impact data delivery across their networks.
Original device manufacturers (OEMs) also play a key role here. Biber noted that while mobile devices are upgraded annually with improved cameras, brighter screens, and more powerful processors, adoption of a new video codec in devices takes time.
"We use video more often on our devices and yet content services and OEMs are not able to deploy the newest video formats as quickly, " he explained.
Biber believes that device makers and mobile operators must work together to push for widespread adoption of VVC that would benefit all parties involved.
Overcoming Industry Inertia
Despite the clear benefits of VVC, Biber acknowledged it takes time to deploy a new video format. Many service providers are readily using AVC, HEVC and AV1, and there will always be challenges for adding a new standard.
"The reality is there are multiple factors at play when adopting new video standards such as addressable devices, IP licenses, etc.," he said. "That is why it is crucial that content providers, device and silicon manufacturers, and network operators are all aligned."
Biber encouraged technology leaders, mobile operators, and content platforms to join forces with MC-IF to discuss implementation strategies for VVC and future video standards.
"I invite industry stakeholders to reach out and have open discussions about how we can overcome these challenges together," he said. "The mobile video experience is at a crossroads, and we must ensure we're moving in the right direction."
As video consumption continues to rise, industry leaders will need to make strategic decisions to prevent network congestion and enhance streaming quality. VVC may be the key to sustaining the mobile video revolution.
For the full interview with Aytac Biber, click here or visit: https://www.mc-if.org/