October 4th, 2007
Level 3 announces significant CDN initiatives
Internet and networking communications services and solutions provider Level 3 Communications says today its Content Markets Group is launching initiatives to appeal to customers who have large files to download or upload.
This initiative, 
I was told by Level 3 execs last week, is aimed at appealing to customers with live-events, video file distribution, and frequent software download needs. The company views these initiatives as in keeping with its perception that:
The need to move these files is expanding outward from traditional content creation and media companies to non-media oriented enterprise users as well as SMBs;
The opportunity to expand its service portfolio by adding Content Delivery Services for existing customers.
“Level 3 will utilize the scale and efficiency of its network to offer its caching and downloading services at the same rate it offers its high-speed Internet access service,” the company said today. Level 3 is offering what has historically been viewed as a premium service (Content Delivery Network) at the same rate as a basic service (Internet access).”
Also today, Level 3 said plans to introduce streaming services supporting all major formats by the end of 2007, as well as complete the full integration of the video management platform it acquired as part of its acquisition of Servecast in the first quarter of 2008.
Russell Shaw is an enterprise computing journalist, analyst and author based in Portland, Oregon. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
