MCU means "Multipoint Control Unit". In video conferencing, the Multipoint Control Unit is a professional video conferencing device. the MCU is able to connect multiple devices involved in video conferencing together at the same time, realizing multi-person video calls. With the MCU, multiple attendees from different locations and times can participate in the same video conference in the same room, providing a reliable solution for remote collaboration.
The MCU is a high-end device, and therefore relatively expensive, and is suitable for areas such as high-end business videoconferencing or telemedicine. Currently, MCUs on the market are categorized into software MCUs and hardware MCUs, with common vendors such as Huawei, Cisco and Poly. Hardware MCUs are usually deployed within an organization to be used as a private cloud for internal videoconferencing, while software MCUs support public, proprietary and hybrid cloud environments and provide videoconferencing services through cloud services.
The applications of MCUs are expanding, and many educational institutions are now using MCUs for distance learning. With good stability and video conferencing quality, MCUs are capable of realizing remote interactive teaching and are an important support device for the gradual popularization of education informatization. Due to the rapid development of e-commerce, online education and other Internet-related industries, the video conferencing MCU market will continue to maintain a rapid growth trend.