Edgeware launches StreamPilot for multi-CDN control
Details
Joseph O'Halloran
| 03 September 2019

Aiming to give broadcasters, content providers, and telecom and cable operators real-time, in-session and per segment delivery control when streaming media in a multi-content delivery network (CDN) environment, Edgeware has launched the StreamPilot session control platform.

The company says that video delivery solutions currently typically depend on the delivery CDN, which can only support a subset of media formats and often require client integration.

CDN independent StreamPilot, to be offered as part of the Edgeware Cloud Service which was launched in April 2019, is designed to avoid all of these limitations. It does not require an Edgeware CDN system or depend on any other delivery CDN. It also supports all media formats, including DASH (for Android clients) and HLS (for Apple clients), regardless if it is live or on-demand. Finally, it is client agnostic and therefore, provides a smooth and fast service turn-up.

Instead the SaaS-based platform uses what the company says is a new patented (pending) technology by Edgeware to control every session with per-segment granularity between the client and the delivering CDN. This it says ensures quality of experience (QoE) by actively monitoring items such as bitrate, and if required, switch sessions between CDNs in real time and during ongoing sessions.
StreamPilot also features a dashboard with an open API to enable automation and integration. This says Edgeware provides ‘unique’ insights into important CDN performance indicators such as load, performance and cost, as well as end user experience.

“Content delivery network (CDNs) will play a central role in the transformation of TV,” noted Rob Gallagher, research director, consumer and entertainment services for data, research and consulting firm Ovum. “As more viewers watch more content on more devices, spend on CDN services to deliver video over the open Internet will grow from just under US$11 billion in 2018 to nearly US$16 billion in 2023... The ability to analyse and manage multiple CDNs to deliver the best quality experiences for the best possible costs will be an important strategy for a growing number of TV and video service providers."

“We are extremely excited to present a solution that ensures quality and control for the growing use of multi-CDN environments,” added Edgeware CEO Karl Thedéen. “StreamPilot is the industry’s first session control platform to provide the possibility to analyse and manage any CDN in real time independent of any other component in the media delivery chain. Furthermore, our customers can instantaneously benefit from StreamPilot’s functionality by connecting to the Edgeware Cloud Service”.