Analytical Study of Quality of Experience Modeling for Over-the-Top Video Applications on Nigerian Mobile Networks

Over-the-top video applications including YouTube, Netflix, and local streaming services now constitute the dominant share of mobile data traffic on Nigerian networks, making quality of experience modeling a commercially and technically significant research challenge for both operators and content providers. This study analytically investigates QoE models for OTT video applications operating on Nigerian mobile network conditions, deriving network-to-QoE mapping functions calibrated to local user behavior and network performance characteristics. An empirical-analytical methodology was employed, combining controlled video streaming experiments across MTN and Airtel 4G networks in Abuja and Port Harcourt with subjective quality assessment studies involving 120 participants rating video quality under systematically varied network conditions. Network impairments including bandwidth throttling, latency injection, and packet loss were introduced through a traffic shaping appliance. The ITU-T P.1203 standard QoE model was evaluated against subjective scores from the Nigerian user panel and a locally adapted model was derived. Results indicate that Nigerian users demonstrate greater sensitivity to initial buffering delay than to resolution switching, with buffering delays exceeding 3 seconds causing mean opinion score reductions of 1.4 points independent of subsequent video resolution. The locally adapted model achieves a Pearson correlation of 0.93 with subjective scores, compared to 0.81 for the uncalibrated P.1203 model. These findings enable Nigerian operators to prioritize buffering delay reduction in QoE management strategies. Keywords: quality of experience, OTT video, mobile network, QoE model, Nigeria.