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Virtualized CDN Solution Leverages Software-Defined Networking and Network Functions Virtualization Help Address Scalability Challenges of Online Video

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY--(Marketwired - Oct 15, 2014) - (SDN & OpenFlow World Congress) -- Today Akamai Technologies, the leading provider of cloud services for delivering, optimizing and securing online content and business applications, and Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR), the leader in network innovation, are demonstrating an Elastic Content Delivery Network (CDN) system designed to enable network operators to address network scalability challenges driven by the rapid increase in video traffic. The proof-of-concept demonstration will leverage Akamai's virtualized Aura Licensed CDN (LCDN) software and Juniper Networks Contrail Controller for software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) to dynamically scale up and down network resources to support content spikes resulting from the broadcast of large events. The technology is also designed to accelerate service creation for service providers utilizing CDNs to launch innovative multiscreen video services that help drive subscriber acquisition and loyalty.

Video consumption has shifted dramatically from a relatively predictive and controlled model to one that is highly dynamic, driven by large traffic spikes during online live and on-demand events. Streaming large live events and popular on-demand titles can cause significant network congestion that leads to a poor subscriber experience, brand erosion and customer turnover. To meet customer demand for multiscreen video services, network operators are increasingly migrating their delivery architecture to CDN-assisted IP video to scale delivery and stay current with the latest technologies. Additionally, many operators are now looking at virtualization of the CDN network function as a key component in scaling delivery.

To address the scalability challenge, Akamai is collaborating with Juniper Networks to demonstrate the industry's first on-network Elastic CDN. Unlike previous approaches which required dedicated hardware, long lead times and extensive planning to add capacity, the Elastic CDN solution running on virtualization platforms leverages Juniper Networks Contrail to quickly configure virtual network resources within a virtual CDN, and allows additional caching capacity to be deployed in minutes instead of weeks. The Elastic CDN is highly distributed and virtually networked to enable efficient use of resources. Operating in an OpenStack environment, the combined solution is designed to help reduce time and cost associated with adding new caching capacity to the network, decreasing both capital and operational expense.

The technology demonstration will feature key attributes designed to address the limitations of statically provisioned video architectures, specifically:

• Scalable caching within the operator network -- Building on virtualization technology, caches are decoupled from dedicated hardware and can be deployed in minutes to meet variable traffic demands.
• Distributed resource pool -- Caching capacity can be added to existing data center resources throughout the network, or more cost-effectively deployed into new micro data centers closer to the subscriber edge.
• Automated networking -- Network virtualization technology designed to ensure connectivity between disparate caching resources. Through intelligent analytics and network performance monitoring, Quality of Service (QoS) levels are closely tracked to enable a network operator to monitor and improve the end user experience.

The Elastic CDN solution will be showcased by Juniper and Akamai at the Juniper Networks booth #25 at SDN/OpenFlow World Congress taking place October 14 - 17 in Dusseldorf. For more information, please visit http://www.layer123.com/sdn

Supporting Quotes:

"Content delivery networks are evolving to meet the needs of increasingly real-time, distributed applications and users. Overlay networks have proven to simplify and automate the delivery of application and user-centric services without the administrative overhead of traditional infrastructure approaches. By combining Akamai's virtualized caching components with Contrail's scale-out network service automation, the companies have created a truly elastic CDN solution to meet the emerging needs of telco clouds."

-Jennifer Lin, senior director product management, Juniper Networks

"As a pioneer and innovator in the CDN space, Akamai has always embraced new approaches to content delivery which can help our customers provide a seamless end user experience to their subscribers. By working together with Juniper, and combining our expertise in media delivery with their expertise in NFV and SDN, we're demonstrating how the concept of an Elastic CDN solution can meet the ever-increasing demands of multiscreen content delivery."

-Anand Parikh, senior director of Business Development, Akamai