BT Group and Edgio announce world’s first MAUD enabled Content Delivery Network

Rhea-AI Summary

BT Group and Edgio have announced a groundbreaking collaboration to integrate the world's first MAUD (Multicast-Assisted Unicast Delivery) enabled Content Delivery Network (CDN). This partnership aims to revolutionize live TV streaming over the internet, offering benefits such as:

• Dedicated delivery for live TV
• Reduced costs
• Higher content quality
• Seamless scalability
• Greener streaming

The collaboration will begin with trials delivering EE TV content on select set-top boxes in the coming months. MAUD technology, unveiled in December 2023, efficiently combines single streams into a shared stream, enhancing viewer experiences and addressing increasing traffic loads. For CDN operators like Edgio, MAUD offers cost savings and instant scalability for large-scale events.

Positive

• Edgio becomes the world's first MAUD-enabled CDN, potentially giving it a competitive advantage
• The technology promises to reduce costs for CDN operators through improved efficiency
• MAUD enables seamless scalability without hardware expansion, particularly valuable for large-scale events
• The solution offers up to 50% bandwidth reduction during peak events, leading to reduced energy consumption
• Integration with MAUD-enabled CDN requires no changes to content providers' end player apps, facilitating adoption

Negative

• None.

Insights

Tech Expert

BT Group's collaboration with Edgio to implement MAUD (Multicast-Assisted Unicast Delivery) in Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) marks a significant advancement in streaming technology. This innovation addresses critical challenges in live content delivery:

• Efficiency: MAUD combines single streams into shared streams, potentially reducing bandwidth usage by up to 50% during peak events.
• Quality: By creating dedicated delivery paths, MAUD ensures higher quality streaming less affected by other internet traffic.
• Scalability: CDN operators can now handle massive concurrent viewership without expanding hardware, important for major sporting events.
• Sustainability: Reduced bandwidth and fewer caches translate to lower energy consumption, aligning with green initiatives.

While promising, the real-world performance of MAUD in EE TV trials will be important to watch. If successful, this could reshape the streaming industry's infrastructure approach.

Financial Analyst

The BT Group-Edgio partnership presents intriguing financial implications for the streaming industry:

• Cost Reduction: MAUD's efficiency could significantly lower infrastructure costs for CDN operators, potentially improving profit margins.
• Market Positioning: As the first MAUD-enabled CDN, Edgio gains a competitive edge, which could translate to increased market share and revenue growth.
• Industry Disruption: If MAUD proves successful, it may force other CDN providers to adopt similar technologies, reshaping industry dynamics.
• Investor Sentiment: This innovation could positively impact investor perception of both BT Group and Edgio, potentially boosting stock valuations.

However, the financial benefits hinge on successful implementation and widespread adoption. Investors should monitor the EE TV trials and subsequent industry response to gauge the long-term financial impact.

Environmental Sustainability Expert

The MAUD technology's potential environmental impact is noteworthy:

• Energy Efficiency: By reducing bandwidth usage by up to 50% during peak events, MAUD significantly lowers energy consumption in data centers and network infrastructure.
• Hardware Reduction: The need for fewer caches means less electronic waste and reduced resource consumption in manufacturing.
• Scalable Sustainability: As streaming demand grows, MAUD's efficiency could help mitigate the environmental impact of increased data traffic.
• Green Credentials: Content providers using MAUD-enabled CDNs can improve their environmental reporting, potentially attracting eco-conscious consumers and investors.

While promising, it's important to conduct comprehensive life-cycle assessments to fully understand MAUD's net environmental impact, including potential rebound effects from increased streaming due to improved quality and efficiency.

• Edgio becomes world’s first MAUD (Multicast-Assisted Unicast Delivery) enabled CDN (Content Delivery Network)
• Benefits include a dedicated delivery for live TV over the internet, reduced costs, higher quality of content, seamless scalability and greener streaming
• The collaboration showcases the benefits of MAUD to CDN operators and content providers

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BT Group announces that it will collaborate with Edgio, as their first partner, to integrate their CDN into its MAUD technology solution. They plan to trial delivery of EE TV content on some set-top-boxes in the live network, in the coming months. Unveiling MAUD in December 2023, this collaboration takes the technology from proof of concept to real-world application with the first live CDN deployment, paving the way for other CDNs to follow.

With the continued demand for live content and the rise of on-demand services, MAUD is a key solution to how BT Group (or any other ISP) can manage ever increasing traffic loads. Using ‘multicast’ to combine single streams into a shared stream, directing it to those that want to watch the action, MAUD efficiently delivers live streaming over the internet. This technology enhances viewer experiences by providing a more reliable, quality-focused, and sustainable delivery of live streaming.

CDN’s are a critical part of the content delivery path – caching (storing) content as close as possible to the customer. For MAUD-enabled CDN operators such as Edgio, the technology will provide dedicated delivery for streaming TV over the internet, allowing the delivery of live content at a higher quality, with content less likely to be impacted by other internet traffic – such as large file downloads.

Enhanced content delivery efficiency from MAUD is expected to yield cost savings for CDN operators as they can achieve seamless scalability without needing to expand hardware caches. For large scale sporting events such as the World Cup or the Euros, this can be especially valuable as it enables CDN operators instant and guaranteed scale to meet demand from millions of concurrent viewers.

MAUD enabled CDNs also offer an environmentally sustainable solution for content providers. Using up to 50% less bandwidth during peak events, MAUD technology reduces energy consumption through the use of fewer caches. For content providers, integration with the MAUD-enabled CDN requires no changes to their end player apps.

Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT Group said: “BT Group’s goal is to develop an efficient live streaming solution that addresses the needs of players within the content delivery path. Partnering with Edgio, we’re pioneering an effective content delivery system that seamlessly integrates with CDNs, making it accessible for external content providers.”

Emma Whitmore, Group Vice President EMEA at Edgio adds: “Having worked with BT Group since the inception of MAUD we’re delighted to be the first CDN to serve content through it. By reducing congestion in the core of telco networks, clients will benefit from a more consistent, high-quality experience. Combined with the seamless integration of our content providers, clients can easily adopt this technology in markets where there is a mix of solutions across the network.”

As a key advocate for Open Caching, Edgio supports the Streaming Video Technology Alliance (SVTA) in their mission to establish standards for scalable, efficient content delivery networks (CDNs). Building on the strengths of the Open Caching proposed and accepted standards, Edgio and BT Group can quickly establish the mechanisms needed to share the required information for this partnership to succeed.

About Edgio

Edgio (NASDAQ: EGIO) helps companies deliver online experiences and content faster, safer, and with more control. Our developer-friendly, globally scaled edge network, combined with our fully integrated application and media solutions, provide a single platform for the delivery of high-performing, secure web properties and streaming content. Through this fully integrated platform and end-to-end edge services, companies can deliver content quicker and more securely, boosting overall revenue and business value. To learn more, visit edg.io and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About BT Group

BT Group is the UK’s leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications and related secure digital products, solutions and services. We also provide managed telecommunications, security and network & IT infrastructure services to customers across 180 countries.

BT Group consists of three customer-facing units: Consumer serves individuals and families in the UK; Business covers companies and public services in the UK and internationally; Openreach is an independently governed, wholly owned subsidiary wholesaling fixed access infrastructure services to its customers – over 700 communications providers across the UK.

British Telecommunications plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/about

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240822402972/en/

Patti Moran

pmoran@edg.io

Source: Edgio

FAQ

What is MAUD and how does it benefit live TV streaming?

MAUD (Multicast-Assisted Unicast Delivery) is a technology that efficiently delivers live streaming over the internet by combining single streams into a shared stream. It benefits live TV streaming by providing dedicated delivery, reduced costs, higher content quality, seamless scalability, and greener streaming.

How will the BT Group and Edgio (EGIO) collaboration be implemented?

The collaboration will begin with trials delivering EE TV content on select set-top boxes in the coming months. Edgio's CDN will be integrated into BT Group's MAUD technology solution, marking the first live CDN deployment of MAUD.

What are the potential cost savings for CDN operators using MAUD technology?

MAUD technology is expected to yield cost savings for CDN operators by improving delivery efficiency and enabling seamless scalability without the need to expand hardware caches. This is particularly valuable for large-scale events with millions of concurrent viewers.

How does MAUD technology contribute to environmental sustainability?

MAUD technology offers an environmentally sustainable solution by using up to 50% less bandwidth during peak events. This reduction in bandwidth usage leads to decreased energy consumption through the use of fewer caches, making streaming greener.