Current Situation
A CDN is a geographically distributed network of proxy servers and their datacenters. The goal is to provide high availability and performance by distributing the service spatially relative to end users. Content delivery networks augment the end-to-end transport network by distributing on it a variety of intelligent applications employing techniques designed to optimize content delivery. The resulting tightly integrated overlay uses web caching, server-load balancing, request routing, and content services.
Goals and Objectives
The goal for M&E customers with respect to CDN services is to deliver video and other media assets, either streaming or video on demand, with ultra-low latency, highest throughput at the lowest cost, securely and reliably to multiple client endpoints including mobile browsers and apps and/or connected TV. Modern CDN technology must include content and data security, appropriate load balancing and automated path of least resistance through monitoring and CDN auto-changeover to provide reliable, buffer-free live streaming and file transfer QoS.
Technology Deployed
CDN nodes are usually deployed in multiple locations, often over multiple internet backbones (principal data routes between large, strategically interconnected computer networks and core routers of the internet). Benefits include reducing bandwidth costs, improving page load times, and increasing the global availability of content. The number of nodes and servers making up a CDN varies, and depending on the architecture, some reaching thousands of nodes with tens of thousands of servers on many remote points of presence (PoP); the local access point that allows users to connect to the internet with their internet service provider). Others build a global network and have a small number of geographical PoPs.
Use Case Summary
Just like OVPs, CDN use cases include live event streaming for sports, news, concerts, and other applications. Video-on-demand use cases include services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HULU. For enterprise use cases, CDNs provide video and media distribution services for training, distance learning, corporate communications, public or legislative events, telehealth, and many other applications.