Load Balancing to Optimize MPEG-DASH Video Streaming

Recent advancements in on-demand multimedia streaming have revealed the potential of this business model, driven by the convenience of accessing content anytime and anywhere. However, delivering a seamless user experience remains challenging due to the demanding nature of audiovisual streams, despite significant resource allocation. A promising solution involves using load balancers to distribute workloads evenly among processing units. This study proposes optimizing the processing and transmission resources by means of Software-Defined Networks (SDN). By continuously monitoring performance metrics like CPU usage and throughput, the SDN network controller determines the best server for handling new connections, even allowing seamless server migration during playback. The results show up to 80% faster response times and more consistent video quality, with reduced latency and uninterrupted playback. The approach also confirms the feasibility of SDN in streaming services, providing a foundation for future network improvements.