We are happy to announce the addition of VP9 with SVC (Scalable Video Coding) for Routed Sessions to the Vonage Video API, bringing new possibilities for developers looking to create more dynamic, efficient, and scalable video experiences. VP9 is already supported in P2P Relayed sessions.
VP9 is an open-source video codec developed by Google and an evolution of the VP8 codec with greater compression efficiency, offering better video quality at lower bandwidths. This means VP9 can encode into higher quality video at similar bitrates as VP8 and is ultimately more suited for delivering higher quality video in bandwidth-constrained networks.
One of the key advantages of VP9 is its support for Scalable Video Coding (SVC). SVC is a mode of the VP9 codec that adds an extra layer of versatility, providing scalable layers built into the encoding of a single video stream. The extra layers include both spatial and temporal scalability for greater resiliency to packet and frame loss. The efficiently encoded stream allows more selective routing in both resolution and framerate to endpoints based on network and endpoint conditions. This allows the video streams to dynamically adapt to varying network conditions, device capabilities, and bandwidth availability.
VP9 SVC (Scalable Video Coding) in Routed Video Sessions
The addition of VP9 SVC into Vonage Video API enables the Vonage Media Router to forward different resolutions from a single encoded stream. This is more efficient than simulcast, used with VP8, where multiple encoded streams are sent at different resolutions. Benefits of using VP9 SVC include:
Improved Video Quality on Low-Bandwidth Connections
VP9 SVC ensures that users on restricted networks still get a smooth video experience. Support for VP9 SVC in routed sessions provides a greater ability to maintain high video quality in low bandwidth situations and over poor network conditions, ensuring reduced impact of dropped frames, which is critical for maintaining stable video calls.
Better Scalability for Large Video Calls
Developers building multi-party applications on the Vonage Video API platform, such as group calling and large-scale meetings, benefit from enhanced VP9 SVC scalability. The VP9 SVC encoding layers allow the Vonage Media Router to deliver optimal video quality for small and large meetings, where maintaining quality for all participants without compromising performance is paramount. Additionally, this results in significant improvements in screenshare sharpness to multiple participants over VP8 at similar bitrates.
Better Device Compatibility
The VP9 codec is now supported in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, providing ubiquitous support for web and native applications. VP9 SVC, which is available for most of these browsers (except for Firefox), allows the Vonage Media Router to adapt the video stream to the capabilities of different devices, so users with varying devices will have the best video experience possible.
Better Network Usage and Reduced Latency
With VP9 SVC, the need for complex network adaptations is minimized since VP9 SVC compression already optimizes data used during video calls. This is particularly useful for mobile users on constrained networks, who will receive a better quality at a similar bitrate versus the default VP8 codec due to encoding efficiencies. Similarly, it also allows the media router to handle changes in network conditions more efficiently, reducing latency and improving the overall user experience, which is especially needed for real-time communications.
The VP9 SVC codec is now available as part of Vonage’s Video API platform, and it can easily be enabled through the Dashboard via the Project (in TokBox) or Application (in Vonage unified) Settings. Customers can select the VP9 codec as the ‘Preferred Video Codec’ to enable VP9 in their Video sessions. When the session is ‘Relayed’, the standard VP9 will be used in P2P calls. When the session is ‘Routed’, VP9 SVC will be used to send to the Vonage Media Router to deliver the appropriate VP9 stream to each endpoint.
In the ToxBox Account Portal, set the ‘Preferred Video Codec’ to VP9 in the Project settings → General Settings:
VP9 Preferred Video Codec Project settings.In the Vonage Unified Dashboard, set the ‘Preferred Video Codec’ to VP9 in the Application settings → Advanced Settings:
VP9 Preferred Video Codec Application setting in the Vonage unified DashboardThis new addition works seamlessly with Vonage’s existing platform, and since VP9 is supported with virtually all browsers, you don’t need to make any changes to your infrastructure, simply select VP9 as the preferred codec and run your application as usual.
To learn more, head to our Vonage Video API documentation and check out the new VP9 SVC developer guide (in Vonage unified/ on TokBox). Our support team is also available to assist if you have any questions or need additional help.
Are you excited about the features? Do you think we left something out? Please join us on our Vonage Community Slack or send us a message on X, previously known as Twitter, and let us know how we can help.
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Jon is a Senior Product Manager for Vonage Video API, with over 20 years of communications technology experience as a patent-holding researcher and a product practitioner. A New Jersey native, his favorite part about building APIs is getting to collaborate with customers around the world who implement it to build their unique and creative video solutions.
