So far, there are four IP network providers which have entered the CDN business. AT&T has its own offering whose effect remains hard to gauge. Level 3 bought Savvis’s CDN assets and has made lot of noise lately. Internap bought VitalStream and Reliance Globalcom partnered with them. Yesterday, Tata unveiled its new CDN and increased its ties with BitGravity. That makes two of the top 10 IP backbones, two Indian carriers, and a tier-3 boutique specialist.
So the question is, whether by acquisition, partnership, or building one from scratch, which carrier is on deck? Anybody? Readers of this blog tend to be well informed on the subject, so it’s time for a poll:
Which IP network will enter the CDN market next?
- Verizon (31%, 20 Votes)
- Global Crossing (25%, 16 Votes)
- Someone else (13%, 8 Votes)
- BT (9%, 6 Votes)
- Qwest (6%, 4 Votes)
- Cogent (6%, 4 Votes)
- Sprint (5%, 3 Votes)
- NTT (5%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 64
Loading ...Of course, there are candidates I have not listed here for lack of space – Telia, PCCW, Tiscali, even TWTC or XO perhaps – for now I discount these as less likely, but you never know so feel free to correct me with a comment below. Personally, my bet is on BT.
Business Week is betting on BT and Verizon:
“Tata joins a growing number of communications providers in seizing on CDN. Until last year, market leader Akamai Technologies (AKAM) had scant competition, except from rival Limelight Networks (LLNW). But then Level 3 Communications (LVLT) joined the fray in 2007, followed by AT&T (T) in June of this year. A month later, Reliance Globalcom, another big Indian carrier, cut a deal to tap the CDN operated by Atlanta-based Internap Network Services. On the heels of the Tata BitGravity hookup, analysts say, are British Telecom (BT) and Verizon Communications (VZ). ”
I wouldn’t forget what Dan wrote a while ago on this blog:
http://www.telecomramblings.com/2008/07/which-network-is-best-and-cdn-implications/#comments
link to the Business Week article, which I forgot in my previous comment:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2008/tc2008098_785702.htm