Nigerian technology-based media organisation, Envivo Communications Limited (Envivo) has partnered with multinational technology company Cisco to launch a new Over the Top (OTT) video streaming service called 'nVIVO TV' in early 2018, powered by Cisco's Infinite Video Platform.

According to a statement from Cisco, the partnership hopes to provide subscribers with access to more 'Nollywood' and international video content on more devices throughout Africa.

"The vision of nVIVO TV is to drive the African and African diaspora market toward a new online streaming experience that provides significant domestic content," says Olu Obadina, Chairman and Chief Innovation Officer at Envivo Communications.

"We understood from the onset that we needed a strategic partner like Cisco. With the Infinite Video Platform as the core of our network, we are able to meet our immediate requirements, with the scale and flexibility to expand as our needs evolve."

According to Cisco, Envivo will use a mix of Cisco OTT video solutions including the Cisco Infinite Video Platform, a cloud services platform for service providers and content owners.

The company adds that 'Nollywood' content (Nigerian-grown content) is currently the fastest growing video content in the world. "Yet despite its popularity, Africa continues to register low television penetration within households and despite the increase in the number of cinemas, there's only an average of a cinema screen per one million people in the region."

"Streaming video is fast becoming the norm for watching movies, shows and other video content in Africa, with many households having smartphones or other mobile devices to use. To help broaden the availability of video content to more people in Africa, Envivo will offer streaming video services for Nollywood and international content across mobile devices including phones, tablets, and PCs."

Conrad Clemson, senior vice president and general manager of service provider platforms and applications at Cisco says, "TV viewing happens on many screens beyond the home, and it has become increasingly critical for service providers to meet consumers' needs for video content on their preferred screen."

"Our collaboration with Envivo to expand its video platform with new cloud-powered streaming video capabilities will offer new entertainment experiences for millions of people across the region at the touch of an app," he concludes.