With an illustrious career spanning over 16 years, Shankar Krishna Murthy has carved a niche in the telecom and media-tech space as a dynamic and visionary Quality Assurance (QA) leader. His journey—from a Test Engineer Trainee in 2007 to spearheading complex QA operations at L&T Technology Services—reflects a relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in the field of product quality and digital experience.

 

In recognition of his exceptional contributions, Shankar was honored with the Excellence in Product Success & QA Innovation in Media-Tech - 2024 award by Business Mint Nationwide Awards. This accolade celebrates his instrumental role in ensuring quality benchmarks across some of the most groundbreaking media products of the last decade.

 

Currently leading QA initiatives for L&T Technology Services, Shankar has directed the quality strategy and implementation for flagship projects like Sky Glass and Sky Live. Sky Glass, a 4K smart TV system, has redefined home entertainment and won accolades such as the Uswitch Telecoms Innovation Award and Choose Best TV Award. Under Shankar’s QA leadership, the product underwent rigorous functional and cross-device testing to achieve a seamless user experience. He was also the lead QA strategist behind Sky Live, an AI-powered interactive camera that revolutionized television interaction with features like video calls, fitness training, and gesture-based gaming. His efforts ensured zero critical vulnerabilities post-launch and flawless integration with 20+ third-party applications—culminating in Sky Glass winning Stuff’s TV Gadget of the Year 2023.

 

Prior to his stint at L&T, Shankar made significant contributions at MediaKind, where he was involved in validating cutting-edge IPTV and OTT platforms—MediaRoom and MediaFirst. His work focused on low-latency streaming, content-aware encoding, and cloud DVR functionalities. He helped future-proof content delivery systems by emphasizing content protection and DRM integration, paving the way for more interactive, secure, and flexible media platforms.

 

Shankar also brought his QA expertise to Philips MediaSuite, a leading hospitality TV solution. He played a vital role in ensuring that Google Cast, Netflix streaming, and remote device management performed seamlessly across vast hotel and public venue networks. His testing efforts on the CMND.io platform enhanced scalability and remote access efficiency, which significantly contributed to the platform’s adoption across global markets like Europe, China, North America, and Australia.

 

At CommScope, he oversaw the validation of Android-based set-top boxes integrated with Google Assistant. His focus on user-friendliness and voice-enabled features helped enhance accessibility and bring intuitive technology into everyday homes.

 

Shankar's impact goes beyond products—he is a mentor and thought leader who actively promotes responsible content delivery and quality-first development cultures in the OTT and streaming space. He mentors professionals and interns alike, advocating for responsible digital parenting, robust automation frameworks, and advanced quality standards in the media-tech ecosystem.

 

What sets Shankar apart is his vision for the future. He is currently working toward launching an AI-powered Validation-as-a-Service (VaaS) platform that aims to revolutionize QA for connected devices. This next-gen platform will integrate machine learning for predictive functional testing, performance tuning, accessibility audits, and regulatory compliance. Designed to serve system integrators and OEMs, this VaaS model will significantly reduce manual efforts and boost reliability, security, and interoperability across the smart home and digital entertainment ecosystem.

 

Shankar’s unwavering commitment to high-quality product delivery, technical excellence, and future-ready innovation continues to redefine the standards of quality assurance in the media-tech landscape. His award for Excellence in Product Success & QA Innovation in Media-Tech - 2024 is not just a recognition of past achievements—it’s a testament to his evolving leadership in shaping the next era of intelligent, reliable, and immersive digital experiences.


Published on: 18-10-2024