Level 3’s Content Delivery Network (CDN) and Digital Media distribution services sit directly on top of Level 3’s leading IP network.
The CDN benefits directly from the network’s inherent performance advantages, and Level 3’s experience in operating and maintaining a highly scalable IP-optimised global infrastructure.
Level 3 is the first carrier to combine the advantage of its industry-leading Internet Backbone with a sophisticated, proven CDN platform.
Unlike many other CDNs, Level 3’s CDN nodes are connected by owned private fibre optic network which allows live and published content to be shared across the CDN both quickly and reliably. Also, unlike many other CDNs, Level 3 has the advantage of a mutually beneficial direct peering arrangement with the majority of major ISPs – allowing content to pass to end-users avoiding the Public Internet completely.
So what does this mean for Level 3 Content Delivery Customers?
Content Delivery is about getting content to customers fast. The fastest route is the shortest network route. Level 3’s CDN nodes are on average closer to customers than any other carrier network: Within 1.77 hops of the content audience (FixedOrbit.com)
Content Delivery is about ensuring that clear bandwidth capacity exists between the network and end customers ensuring content is delivered uninterrupted regardless of data size and customer demand. Level 3’s CDN nodes are connected via more than 700Gbps of global capacity, and the Level 3 IP network has more that 1000Gbps of peering with other networks. The CDN sits on the largest IP network in North America and Europe itself carrying more than 30% of Internet traffic. In owning the underlying network infrastructure, Level 3 has the ability to scale quickly and predictably in line with demand.
Effective and reliable Content Delivery relies upon an underlying CDN technology that intelligently and dynamically directs end-users to the optimal server node at a given point in time. By procuring and integrating the original Sandpiper Footprint® Content Delivery technology, Level 3’s CDN services reflect more than 12 years of content delivery investment and technological development. Level 3 now holds the original patents for CDNs (Sandpiper 1996), and retains some of the original Sandpiper development team on staff.
Effective and reliable Content Delivery relies upon a highly resilient and dependable server and Data Centre infrastructure. Level 3 owns and maintains a larger data centre footprint than any other operator in the world. All of Level 3’s purpose-built data centre facilities are built and maintained to the exacting standards required for supporting both Level 3’s own IP network and the networks of some of the largest telecoms, content providers and enterprises in the world. By controlling this vital asset, Level 3’s Content Delivery Services reside on a high availability infrastructure, can grow to meet demand, and underlying data centre costs are both minimised and predictable.
Effective and reliable Content Delivery is about selecting a partner that is committed to providing industry leading services over the long term and building valued relationships with its customers. Level 3 is highly committed to servicing this space and believes the shift in moving content to “the edge” reflects an important source of growth that was previously un-addressable to Level 3. Level 3’s actions since moving into the Content Delivery market fairly represents their commitment to long term investment and product development:
- Since acquiring the CDN in early 2006, Level 3 has increased CDN capacity by 10x
- Over $200 Million invested in the last year in Content Delivery services
- Purchase of Servecast in 2007, expands video capture and encoding services
- Over 100 developers on staff to manage and enhance CDN service
- Live streaming and origin storage services added Portal development and real-time integration
- Inclusion of support for all major forms of media player
- Continuing to expand Asian presence in 2008
- Strategic partnership with Move Network for High Definition (HD) media services
- Strategic Cross-licensing agreement with IBM for additional CDN patents
Effective and reliable Content Delivery is about selecting a partner that is committed to providing very competitive pricing over the long term, as opposed to offering unsustainably low pricing designed for short-term gain. Level 3 owns all the key aspects of providing a CDN service which means that it is in control of its underlying costs, and can pass sustainable cost advantages to its customers.
Level 3 is committed to pricing CDN bandwidth at similar levels as IP transit, giving Level 3 an edge over competitive offerings. By lowering the associated costs of using a CDN, Level 3 opens broader and differentiated costs advantages for lowering the overall costs for businesses delivering content:
“They (Level 3) own all aspects of what it takes to operate a CDN; wavelengths, colocation, power and cooling, server infrastructure, the largest IP backbone on the planet and direct interconnectivity to other top networks."
Dan Rayburn, Businessofvideo.com, August 2007
Effective Content Delivery is about selecting a partner who is willing to work with your business - as your business’ needs change. Whilst others encourage exclusivity, Level 3 is confident of its service value and actually encourages a multi-provider approach to provide the Customer with more control, a higher degree of network intelligence and cost management.Level 3’s ITM service offers the functionality of operating two concurrent CDN services.
The Level 3 Content Delivery Service Portfolio allows customers to:
- Avoid network congestion
- Handle flash crowds without the need to over-provision
- Maintain site response times; decrease latency and timeout issues
- Cost-effectively store content for delivery within the Level 3 network
- Achieve low packet loss to stabilize performance issues, such as jitter with streaming videos
- Monetize their content
- Leverage customized solutions for large libraries of video and digital assets
- Deliver Content anywhere at any time
Level 3 offers the complete portfolio of services to companies that require rich-media distribution for creating exceptional end-user experiences.
Level 3 is the only provider to offer flexible solutions that bring the industry leading scalability, superior quality and broadest connectivity.
Level 3 Content Delivery Network Services are the right choice for companies who need reliable distribution of large objects, large file downloading capability (video or software) or caching services.
As a Level 3 Content Delivery Network customer, you benefit with network scalability, international coverage and superior performance.
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