BT has integrated Edgio as its first partner to deploy a Content Delivery Network (CDN) powered by Multicast-Assisted Unicast Delivery (MAUD) technology. This collaboration marks the first real-world application of MAUD, which was unveiled by BT Group in December 2023. The partnership will initially trial the delivery of EE TV content on select set-top boxes, setting the stage for future deployments of MAUD across other CDNs.
MAUD, which was developed by the Content Delivery Research team at BT’s Research Labs at Adastral Park, uses multicast to group single streams into one shared one. MAUD has a further significant advantage over ‘ordinary’ multicast streams, as its integration is made completely transparent to the player application. BT says MAUD technology uses up to 50% less bandwidth during peak events, reducing energy usage through the use of fewer caches. By freeing up internet capacity, it will help to deliver a higher quality of experience for both live and non-live content.
Edgio’s CDN will benefit from this technology by delivering higher quality content with reduced disruptions, even during peak traffic times. The collaboration also promises significant cost savings and reduced energy consumption, making it a sustainable option for content providers, all without requiring modifications to existing player apps.
• BT Group’s MAUD Deployment: Edgio is the first partner integrated into BT Group’s MAUD-enabled CDN.
• Trial Phase: The partnership will trial EE TV content delivery using MAUD on selected set-top boxes.
• Improved Streaming Efficiency: MAUD enables more reliable, high-quality live streaming with seamless scalability.
• Cost and Energy Savings: MAUD technology reduces costs and energy consumption by up to 50%.
• No App Modifications Needed: Content providers can adopt MAUD without changes to their existing end player applications.
“BT Group’s goal is to develop an efficient live streaming solution that addresses the needs of players within the content delivery path. Partnering with Edgio, we’re pioneering an effective content delivery system that seamlessly integrates with CDNs, making it accessible for external content providers.” — Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT Group
