Who’s behind ArnetPlay’s new CDN?

Juan Pablo Conti ©RapidTVNews | 16-10-2011



A few days ago, we reported on the launch of ArnetPlay, Telecom Argentina's first foray into the OTT space. Then, we mentioned how the telco had decided to roll out its own content delivery network (CDN). Now we know who provided the gear for it, too.

It was French video server specialist Broadpeak, which confirmed the news in a statement. The announcement also discloses the strategic geographic sites that Telecom identified as the most appropriate to locate the network's initial points of presence (POPs). The chosen sites were Buenos Aires, Rosario and Córboba – Argentina's three more densely populated conurbations.
According to Broadpeak, deploying and operating its own CDN will bring two major economic advantages to Telecom. On the one hand, it will eliminate costly CDN provider fees; on the other one, the telco will be able to generate additional cash by monetising the CDN through direct lease and wholesale operations.
Broadpeak also revealed details regarding some of the products that Telecom acquired for its new network. Among them, the equipment vendor mentioned the BkM100 CDN Mediator (used as the central control system, or system manager) and the BkS200 and BkS300 families of live and on-demand streaming servers.
The BkS200 servers are being used by Telecom to stream content in the Adobe Flash format and SHOUTcast/ICEcast formats (web radio). They are being complemented by the BkS300 servers, which are handling the streaming of video content in both the Microsoft Windows Media and Silverlight Smooth Streaming formats.