Akamai, AT&T join forces on content delivery

Akamai Technologies is teaming up with AT&T to offer a combined suite of content delivery network (CDN) solutions for media and other enterprises, and operators — initially in North America, but with plans to expand globally within 12 months.

Akamai's content delivery platform combined with the telco's IP network creates a suite of global CDN and telecom solutions that will be jointly marketed, managed and supported by the two companies. Akamai will deploy CDN servers at the edge of AT&T's IP network and in AT&T facilities throughout the United States to bolster more efficient content routing and better delivery of digital content, video and Web applications. AT&T will transfer its existing CDN operations, customers and service to the Akamai platform in 2013.

The alliance with Akamai represents the latest milestone in AT&T's strategy to help companies meet explosive growth in the use of video and other content, both within their operations and by the end users they serve. Driven by explosive growth in digital media, organisations are designing high-performing networking solutions. CDN solutions from AT&T and Akamai will help enterprises simplify content distribution management for Web-delivered content.

"The alliance with Akamai positions us perfectly to deliver premier content delivery solutions to our business customers," said Andy Geisse, CEO of AT&T business solutions, in a statement. "By embedding Akamai's technology within AT&T's IP network, our customers now have access to a suite of solutions that more than meet their need for content delivery and support. In an environment where companies and consumers alike are accessing video content and other applications online and from a multitude of devices, I can't think of a better way to address the explosive growth in content that is sweeping across industries like media and retail."

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/international-news/item/609-akamai-att-join-forces-on-content-delivery.html