In 2015 most of sub-Saharan Africa could not stream video reliably or cheaply. Nuvu, Ericsson's subscription video service, was designed around that: download overnight when mobile data is cheap, watch offline later.
About the brand
Nuvu was Ericsson's first end-to-end subscription video-on-demand service, announced in November 2015 for Africa and marketed with mobile operators, starting with Airtel Nigeria. Subscribers got around 3,000 local and international titles for a small monthly fee, downloaded at off-peak times and watched offline. Accedo is a global provider of streaming software and services founded in Stockholm. Source: About Accedo. Source: Ericsson launches NuVu, Nov 2015. Source: Nuvu brand and UI design.
My role
I worked as architect and developer on Nuvu, through Accedo, in a fully agile team at Accedo's Stockholm office (2015 to 2016).
What I built
- Architect and developer on Nuvu by Ericsson, working for Accedo (2015 to 2016), the agency in a fully agile team at Accedo's Stockholm office.
- Nuvu launched as an Android app with a personalised interface, bookmarking and recommendations, and was marketed with operators, starting with Airtel Nigeria.
Architecture and approach
- Nuvu's core design: content downloads are scheduled into off-peak network windows on an Android client.
- Offline playback: downloaded titles stay watchable for up to 30 days.
- Integration with the operator's customer relationship management and payment systems, so billing goes through the carrier.
- A content catalogue of around 3,000 local and international films and series for a small monthly fee.
Hard problems
Making expensive data cheap
The service downloads content at off-peak times at no additional data cost, and also supports Wi-Fi. This only works if downloads survive unreliable cellular networks.
Operator billing
Subscriptions had to plug into the carrier's CRM and payment stack rather than a card form, which shapes sign-up, entitlement and renewal.
Outcome
- Public launch announced by Ericsson in November 2015, with Airtel Nigeria, a network of more than 30 million subscribers.
- Brand identity by Red Bee, an Ericsson company; bespoke UI and design system by PS Fennell.
Tech and keywords
- Android
- Java
- Software architecture
- Video on demand
- Offline playback
- Download manager
- Operator billing
- Agile
- OTT
- Emerging markets
Quick facts
- App: Accedo NUVU
- Category: Streaming
- Built by: David Miller, Digital Space Agency, Hamburg
- Type: Client work
Discuss a similar project All work
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FAQ
What did David Miller do on Accedo NUVU?
I worked as architect and developer on Nuvu, through Accedo, in a fully agile team at Accedo's Stockholm office (2015 to 2016). Details of scope and stack are shared on request.
Who developed the Accedo NUVU app?
Accedo NUVU work was done by David Miller of Digital Space Agency, a Flutter and mobile developer based in Hamburg. I worked as architect and developer on Nuvu, through Accedo, in a fully agile team at Accedo's Stockholm office (2015 to 2016).
Can David Miller build a similar app?
Yes. I take contract engagements and am open to full-time roles, working in Hamburg or remotely on CET. Email info@dsa.team with a short description of the project.