VCEG

VCEG stands for the Video Coding Experts Group. It is a working group within ITU-T that develops international standards for video compression. VCEG operates in close collaboration with ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11 (MPEG) as part of a joint effort to create and refine advanced video coding technologies. The group brings together researchers from industry, academia, and national standards bodies to study algorithms, evaluate proposals, and specify coding standards for a wide range of applications, including broadcast, streaming, conferencing, and storage.

The most notable outcomes of VCEG’s work have been developed in collaboration with MPEG. These include the H.264/AVC standard (also known as MPEG-4 Part 10), the H.265/HEVC standard, and the newer Versatile Video Coding (VVC, or H.266). Each successive codec aims to deliver substantially improved compression efficiency, while supporting diverse environments such as mobile devices, high-resolution video, and interactive applications. VCEG’s activities also address coding efficiency, scalability, error resilience, and device-compatibility considerations across different bitrates and network conditions.

Operationally, VCEG conducts its work under ITU-T Study Group 16 on Multimedia and through the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC), a joint venture with MPEG that handles the development, testing, and documentation of draft specifications and reference software for standardization. The group’s work underpins modern digital video delivery, enabling advances in broadcasting, streaming services, and multimedia communications.