Article Summary:

The goal of bringing 4k video to future broadband networks, while also making streaming HD video available even on bandwidth-constrained mobile networks, has come one step closer with adoption of the H.265 standard, also informally known as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), by the ITU yesterday. The new standard will enable publishers to stream 1080p video with about half as many bits as required today which could also mean that in places where there is good broadband connectivity, 4K streaming could be possible with connection speeds of 20-30 Mbps of bandwidth. A team within the ITU continues to work on developments within HEVC including support for 12-bit video, 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 chroma formats, scalable video coding as well as stereoscopic and 3D video coding.