ott
software development
We build over-the-top (OTT) video platforms for African content distributors, broadcasters, and studios — live TV, VOD, and sports streaming with adaptive bitrate delivery, DRM, and mobile money subscriptions. We engineer for the bandwidth realities of African networks without sacrificing content quality.
what we build
- VOD and live TV streaming platform (web and mobile apps)
- Content ingestion and transcoding pipeline
- Multi-DRM protection (Widevine + FairPlay)
- Subscription and pay-per-view billing with mobile money
- Content recommendation and discovery engine
- Broadcaster / content partner CMS and upload portal
- Viewer analytics dashboard (watch time, drop-off, device split)
- Chromecast, AirPlay, and Smart TV app development
challenges we solve
- High buffering and abandonment on 3G and 4G mobile networks
- No mobile money payment option excluding the majority of African subscribers
- Content piracy with no DRM implementation on distributed video
- Manual content ingestion from partners adding days to publishing
- No viewer analytics to justify content acquisition spend
typical tech stack
frequently asked questions
What's the difference between building an OTT platform and a general video streaming site?
OTT platforms require broadcast-grade components: live origin packaging, multi-DRM for content protection, CDN at scale, Smart TV apps, and subscription management at volume. We scope these requirements carefully in discovery.
How do you make live sports streaming reliable on African networks?
We use HLS low-latency streaming with multiple quality rungs so the player degrades gracefully on slower connections. CDN PoPs in Nairobi and Lagos significantly reduce buffering for local audiences.
Can you build Smart TV apps alongside the mobile and web platform?
Yes. We build for Android TV, Samsung Tizen, and LG webOS in addition to iOS, Android mobile, and web. Smart TV apps share the same backend but require separate UI development.
How do African subscribers typically pay for OTT subscriptions?
M-Pesa recurring billing and Flutterwave are the primary options for East and West Africa. Telco billing is available in some markets and removes the need for any payment credentials.
start a project
Minimum engagement: 1-week (40-hour) trial. Typical follow-on projects start around $1,500 USD.