Everyone using online video knows what can happen in any random network environment: a video playback starts buffering, quality gets worse, and the connection gets unreliable. This issue can go really bad with users going online on mobile devices in changing network environments, like switching from bad WiFi, to 5G or 3G and back. A reliable media transport is important to keep up a great user experience, especially in real-time streaming environments such as Webinars with voting or Q&A or monetized video applications like live sports betting or live auctions.
Live Streaming Workflow
A typical live streaming workflow starts with a live camera, connected to a live encoder software or hardware, which sends a stream to a live streaming platform with a Content Delivery Network (CDN). The audience uses a live player software, typically in a web browser, to pull the live stream from the closest server location in the CDN. Additionally, tools like Metrics and Analytics are important to control the Quality of Experience.
Transforming Live Streaming with MoQ, WebTransport, HTTP/3, and QUIC
The introduction of Media Over QUIC (MoQ) is reshaping how live media is delivered online. MoQ leverages modern technologies like WebTransport, HTTP/3, and QUIC to overcome the challenges of traditional streaming protocols based on TCP. Together, these technologies enable faster, smoother, and more reliable live-streaming experiences, even in less-than-ideal network conditions.
This article explores how MoQ works, its use cases and benefits, and how nanocosmos is committed to enhancing global live streaming through our nanoStream platform.
What is Media Over QUIC (MoQ)?
MoQ (Media Over QUIC) is a next-generation transport protocol built specifically for real-time media streaming. Based on QUIC, MoQ takes live streaming to the next level.
Designed with the needs of live streaming in mind, MoQ offers:
- Ultra-low latency for real-time interaction.
- Seamless streaming with smoother experiences, even on unstable or fluctuating networks (fewer interrupts and buffering).
- Stream prioritization, – streams always get the bandwidth they need.
- Scalability, perfect for one-on-many applications of any audience size.
MoQ ensures live media streams are reliable and high-quality—even in less-than-ideal network conditions, by leveraging the built-in strengths of QUIC compared to TCP:
- Faster connection times
- Resilience to packet loss
- Smarter congestion control
Whether used over raw QUIC or WebTransport, MoQ adds flexibility and precision, making it an ideal solution for broadcasters and developers looking to deliver smooth, reliable streaming experiences.
Why Is MoQ Important?
Global audiences expect live streaming platforms to work seamlessly on any device and network, whether at home, on the move, or across varying connections. Platforms have to deliver exceptional video quality and reliable performance 24/7, with ultra-low latency for real-time interaction—critical for monetized applications like gaming and betting, where engagement drives revenue.
Solutions like nanocosmos’ H5Live enable global real-time streaming with ultra-low latency and scalability, even under challenging conditions. While other technologies like WebRTC works well for peer-to-peer video, it struggles to scale for broader live streaming. With QUIC now widely available in browsers, the streaming landscape is evolving. MoQenhances this further, enabling smoother, ultra-low-latency performance on unstable networks.
However, the streaming technology itself is not the only thing to look at. It needs to be deployed and made available in an easy-to-use way. For interactive use cases like iGaming, auctions, or town halls, achieving real-time engagement at scale requires an end-to-end optimized workflow. MoQ builds on innovations from vendors like nanocosmos, offering a robust, scalable solution that unifies media delivery, overcoming current limitations and enabling real-time communication with both speed and scale
Use Cases for MoQ Streaming
MoQ can be used in different industries and applications, to enhance the user experience for live streaming:
- Live Events and Virtual Town Halls: reduced latency and better scale
- Webinars and E-Learning: improved access from any location for real-time Q&A.
- Online Gambling, iGaming, Sports betting: real-time interactivity is crucial for horse racing, online casinos, poker platforms.
- Live Commerce and Auctions: enhanced live shopping experiences for real-time interaction, enhancing the feeling of urgency and excitement.
- Real-Time Collaboration: MoQ benefits applications like video conferencing, online meetings, and webinars by enabling smooth, low-latency interactions.
How Does MOQ Work?
MoQ is a media transport protocol designed to operate over QUIC and WebTransport, offering seamless, real-time communication for live streaming and interactive applications. QUIC, part of the HTTP/3 standard, uses the UDP protocol at the network layer, providing significant advantages over traditional TCP-based HTTP connections.
Both MoQ and QUIC introduce innovations that overcome limitations in HTTP over TCP, particularly for latency-sensitive, real-time applications such as live streaming, gaming, and video conferencing.
WebTransport: A Key Building Block
WebTransport is a framework that enables client-server communication over QUIC. It allows for real-time data transmission, offering a simplified model compared to WebRTC, which was designed for peer-to-peer communicationwith a lot complexity under the hood. WebTransport is ideal for applications like live streaming, where client-server interactions are predominant.
WebTransport and MoQ combine to deliver ultra-low latency, making it perfect for interactive streaming experiences like live events, gaming, and video conferencing.
With MoQ, live streaming achieves near-instantaneous playback, even during network interruptions.
The Role of HTTP/3
HTTP/3, built on top of QUIC, replaces the older TCP based transport layer used with HTTP/1 and HTTP/2, solving issues like connection establishment delays and head-of-line blocking. For live streaming, HTTP/3 offers:
- Faster content delivery and network connection
- Better packet loss handling
- Improved performance on mobile networks
Tech Comparison: QUIC vs. TCP
QUIC means “Quick UDP Internet Connection” and is based on UDP with additional benefits: Error correction, packet loss handling, encryption and more. The lowest software level of network connection protocols are TCP and UDP, which are existing for decades but create challenges for modern media transport in diverse network situations. QUIC combines the benefits to a new unique transport protocol.
| Feature | TCP | QUIC |
| Connection Establishment | Multi-step handshake (SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK) | Quick single-step handshake combining connection and cryptographic setup, allows stable connections in “roaming” situations |
| Latency | Higher latency due to strict ordering of packets and packet confirmations (ACK), can lead to congestion | Reduced latency by allowing independent streams without head-of-line blocking (congestion) |
| Packet Loss Handling | Retransmits all data, blocking subsequent packets | Retransmits only lost packets, unaffected streams continue |
| Encryption | Optional encryption via TLS | QUIC connections are all encrypted |
| Multiplexing | Supported by HTTP/2, but shares the same TCP connection, vulnerable to blocking | Built-in multiplexing at the protocol level, avoiding head-of-line blocking |
This diagram shows how “quick” a QUIC connection is established compared to a TCP connection:
(Image Source: https://edgecast.medium.com/how-quic-speeds-up-all-web-applications-62964aadb3d1)
Tech Comparison: MoQ vs. HLS and DASH
MoQ and HLS and DASH are designed to handle media streaming. However, HLS and DASH have fundamental issues for real-time video: they are based. on “chunked” video segments which always create significant latency. In practice, HLS segments are at least 2 seconds long and grouped together as 3 segments which leads to latency values of 6 seconds and more. In reality this goes up to 30 seconds and more, which makes it impossible to use for real-time interaction.
Tech Comparison: MoQ vs. WebRTC
MoQ and WebRTC are both designed to handle real-time communication and media streaming. However, they cater to different use cases and architectural preferences, with distinct design philosophies and trade-offs. MoQ is based a modular architecture based on Webtransport and QUIC. It is designed to work in broadcast-grade and high quality video streaming environments, including Adaptive Bitrate Playback. WebRTC is a monolithic architecture designed for peer-to-peer-video telephony, with a lot complexity under the hood but less flexibility for video stream configuration. Additional requirements for STUN and TURN servers make deployments challenging.
| Aspect | MOQ (Media over QUIC) | WebRTC |
| Video Quality | Supports high-quality video/audio configurations for broadcast-grade applications (no codec or profile dependencies) | Typically lower video quality, optimized for real-time communication / video meetings (usually limited codec config, no B-Frames) |
| Target Use Case | One-to-many, any scale, real-time media delivery (e.g., live streaming, video broadcasting) | Peer-to-peer video telephony or conferencing, small interactive sessions, not designed for live streaming |
| Transport Layer | Built on QUIC, supporting multiplexing, encryption, and low latency | Uses RTP/UDP for media and SCTP/DTLS for data channels |
| Network Handling | Resilient to poor network conditions, with features like adaptive bitrate playback | Can struggle with bitrate adaptation and frame drops in bad network situations |
| Architecture | Modular and scalable, supporting CDN and flexible codec configurations. | Monolithic and complex, requiring additional components (e.g., SFU, TURN servers) , complex Firewall rules |
| Use Cases | Best for live streaming, gaming, betting, and town halls | Best for peer-to-peer video calls and small-group interactive sessions |
nanocosmos leverages both WebRTC and MoQ depending on the use case. WebRTC is preferred for browser-based ingest in web applications, while MOQ is the go-to choice for stable, large-scale delivery to a global audience, including Adaptive Bitrate Playback to automatically adjust to downstream network bandwidth. This ensures high-quality, reliable streaming at scale, tailored to the specific needs of each application.
Introducing the MOQT Standard
The MOQT (Media Over QUIC Transport) standard combines the best features of MOQ, WebTransport, and HTTP/3into a unified framework designed to modernize and enhance live streaming protocols.
As an ongoing initiative, MOQT is continually evolving to meet the growing demands of real-time media delivery, ensuring it remains at the cutting edge of streaming technology.
Which browsers support MoQ?
As of December 2024, Media Over QUIC support depends on WebTransport and WebCodecs APIs available in industry-standard web browsers:
- Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge & Other Chromium-Based Browsers (like Opera): Fully support WebTransport and WebCodecs, making it the most compatible option.
- Mozilla Firefox: Support is still in progress
- Apple Safari: Lacks official support for WebTransport and WebCodecs. Experimental flags suggest future compatibility, but not yet available.
How to Implement MOQ for Real-Time Live Streaming
While MoQ excels at real-time video and audio transport, a complete live-streaming platform requires more:
- End-to-End Architecture: Smooth communication and ultra-low latency from ingest to playback across devices.
- 24/7 Uptime: Robust monitoring and dedicated support ensure constant availability and error-free operation.
- Global Scalability (CDN): A worldwide CDN with origin/edge architecture delivers fast, reliable streams, handling high traffic with low latency.
- Real-Time Analytics: Instant insights on performance enable real-time monitoring, quick issue resolution, and stream optimization.
- Advanced Security: End-to-end encryption and content protection prevent piracy and unauthorized access.
- Professional Support: Continuous oversight and rapid technical support ensure consistent performance and scalability.
These components together enable seamless, high-quality, globally scalable real-time streaming. Read more about the hidden costs of building a real-time streaming platform.
The Future of MoQ and Real-Time Streaming
As demand for high-quality live streaming grows, technologies like MoQ, WebTransport, HTTP/3, and MOQT are redefining real-time streaming. These innovations enable faster, more reliable, and scalable experiences, helping developers and broadcasters meet global audience needs.
By adopting these technologies, the streaming industry unlocks new levels of interactivity, engagement, and performance across entertainment, enterprise, and beyond. The future of live streaming is here—optimized for speed, scale, and seamless interaction.
Are you ready to be part of it?
nanocosmos and MoQ: Shaping the Future of Real-Time Streaming
nanocosmos remains at the forefront of innovation with a strong customer-focused approach, driving the future of real-time streaming through the nanoStream Platform. Early demonstrations of MoQ at events like IBC 2023 showcased its potential to revolutionize live streaming.
With nanoStream Cloud, our real-time streaming platform, we leverage MoQ to deliver exceptional experiences with:
- Sub-Second Latency: Ideal for interactive use cases like live events, gaming, and betting.
- Global CDN: Ensures 100% uptime, 24/7 operation, and scalable delivery to audiences worldwide.
- Dynamic Real-Time Player: Seamless integration for smooth, low-latency playback on any device or location.
- Advanced Analytics: In-depth insights for monitoring, optimizing, and troubleshooting stream performance in real time.
nanoStream Cloud uniquely integrates both established and emerging ultra-low-latency technologies, delivering a consistent, high-quality user experience across platforms, devices, and browsers. By harnessing the latest advancements, it ensures optimal performance and reliability, regardless of the user’s environment.
Interested to take the next steps? Sign up here for our MoQ Early Access Program.
Got questions? Reach out to our team.
