How Do Video Platforms Maintain Low Latency in Large Group Calls?
Blog post from Stream
Large group calls efficiently maintain low latency by using Selective Forwarding Units (SFUs) instead of mesh networks or Multipoint Control Units (MCUs), which helps to avoid bandwidth issues and reduces delays. SFUs route streams without remixing, allowing each client to upload a single stream to a media server, which then forwards only the necessary video quality to each participant, optimizing bandwidth and device performance. WebRTC's real-time transport, short buffers, and adaptive encoding further contribute to keeping delays under a few hundred milliseconds, even in calls with over 50 participants. Media servers are strategically distributed across regions to minimize latency by connecting users to the nearest available server, while client-side limitations are managed through UI strategies like spotlight modes and selective subscription, ensuring only essential video streams are decoded. This approach is supported by SDKs that handle media layers, enabling developers to focus on user interface design rather than complex server management.
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