KUMU brings the global Filipino community closer with a rich live streaming experience powered by Agora

Social

Live Streaming

Screenshots of KUMU app on mobile phones

Problem

Disruptions in live stream sessions for global users in locations where internet connectivity is a challenge.

Solution

Agora’s network (SD-RTN^TM) ensures seamless real-time interactions under any network conditions.

Results

30% increase in session time

60 million live stream views per month

78% increase in gifts/tips

About KUMU

Building a vibrant Filipino community online

Founded in 2018, KUMU is a leader in social media and live streaming experience based in the Philippines. Conceived as a digital platform for breaking social barriers and simplifying the exchange of ideas, it has brought together the global Filipino community, offering a range of rich features that allow users to connect, discover and share content especially related to Filipino culture and interests. KUMU is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms in the Philippines, with a rapidly expanding followership of Filipino content creators, influencers, and fans worldwide.

The Problem

Overcoming the limitations of local network infrastructure and scalability

KUMU’s highly interactive and immersive social network environment is resource intensive. Previously, these demands required peak network conditions to be seamlessly available for the users. Due to geographical network infrastructure limitations, the Philippines is a challenging climate for high-speed internet access. Notably, the Philippines ranks 82 out of 142 countries in wireless internet connectivity.

Despite best intentions and investments in product design, less-than-ideal internet connectivity often ruined the experience for KUMU users attempting to use real-time audio and video in the app. KUMU needed a real-time voice and video solution that would provide a stable and reliable connection even with low-quality local network conditions. Also, the solution needed to provide low-code and plug-and-play capabilities, allowing the app to go to market with new and compelling features at lightning speed rather than having its stack conventionally developed. Luckily, KUMU found that Agora could meet these requirements.

Network issues before Agora:

Less than ideal local network conditions

Lack of scalability

Long development and deployment cycles

The Solution

Delivering rich audio/video streaming with speed and scale

Agora’s highly scalable and efficient network immediately addressed previous network issues, allowing global users to enjoy real-time voice and video features—even with sub-par local network conditions. Agora’s network also allowed KUMU to expand globally without hesitation. After addressing the network and scalability, KUMU decided to take advantage of Agora’s low-code tools and wide ranging functionality to rebuild the app from the ground up.

KUMU added advanced audio capabilities allowing users to enjoy a range of engaging features such as voice effects, active-speaker recognition, and AI-powered noise cancellation. The app can now connect a live stream host to a large audience and enable interactions using messaging, virtual gifts, emojis, and more. Finally, leveraging Agora’s Signaling SDK, KUMU can synchronize interactions, notifications, and messaging for of any number of online users to ensure they have seamless interactions.

Agora Products

Voice Calling Voice Calling

Video Calling Video Calling

Interactive Live Streaming Interactive Live Streaming

Signalling Signalling

Why KUMU chose Agora:

Zero latency and stutter-free streaming globally

High scalability

Easy integration

“Agora’s suite of SDKs and extensions exceeded our expectations in delivering a rich and live interactive experience for our users. Agora’s team of experts was extremely helpful from product innovation to successful implementation.”

Ellard Capiral, VP of Engineering

Results and ROI

Reinventing the joy of digital connection

After implementing Agora, KUMU reached an estimated 10 million app downloads across the world with approximately 60 million live streams views per month. The app is now one of the highest-grossing apps worldwide. Implementing Agora dramatically increased engagement with a 30% increase in session time and a 78% increase in users sending gifts or tips to streamers.

Agora’s robust network allowed user in any location to join in real-time interaction and the host of new features enabled by Agora helped to drive a sharp rise in in-app engagement. Additionally, KUMU has saved on development costs with Agora’s easy-to-use tools that drastically reduce time to market for new real-time features.

With Agora SDKs supporting low-code and API-based integrations, KUMU developers can now quickly design and build new features and take them to market swiftly.

Results after implementing Agora:

30% increase in session time

60 million live stream views per month

78% increase in gifts/tips

App Builder

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