Content Delivery Services: Decongesting the Internet

As the Internet has grown and matured into a major communications medium and foundation for business strategy, Web site providers and end-users are placing greater importance on the quality of the browsing experience. In this study, a content delivery service refers to a service designed to improve the speed and quality of delivery of Web site content or streamed video/audio, by replicating the content in multiple servers at service provider network or enterprise facilities located closer to end-users, and using intelligent traffic management tools to route requests to the best available server. The report profiles eight leading content delivery service providers, and three suppliers of content delivery network solutions to service providers. A five year forecast of the content delivery services market is given, and new directions that will shape the future content delivery services market are highlighted.

Executive Summary

Introduction

Definition of a Content Delivery Service

Benefits For Customers

Classification of Content Delivery Service Providers

Future Directions

Content Delivery Service Provider Profiles

Akamai Technologies

BT (British Telecom)

Digital Island / Cable & Wireless

Exodus Communications, Inc.

Global Crossing

Globix

iBEAM Broadcasting Corp.

Qwest

Content Delivery Network Suppliers

Cisco Systems

Network Appliance

Nortel Networks

Content Delivery Services Market Forecast

Conclusion

List of Tables

Table 1. Classification of Content Delivery Service Providers by Services Offered and Facilities Used

Table 2. Forecast of Worldwide Content Delivery Services Revenues and Growth for 2000 - 2005 ($ millions)

List of Figures

Figure 1. Akamai's Content Delivery Service

Figure 2. BT Ignite Content Distribution Network

Figure 3. Digital Island Content Delivery Edge Server Locations

Figure 4. Exodus Three-Tiered Architecture for Content Distribution

Figure 5. Forecast of Worldwide Content Delivery Services Revenues for 2000 - 2005 ($ millions)