Verizon’s new CDN paves way for P2P

Because Verizon is only using the system for its own customers, the carrier’s CDN operations are markedly different from most others around the globe.

“That enables them to target a very specific audience in a specific region of the world,” Rayburn said. “They own the network. They know where they want to put these devices. They know what type of bandwidth their customers are capable of getting. They know who’s on FiOS and who’s on DSL. They have a lot of control. Typically that’s not something you see [in CDNs] because most folks don’t actually own the network and the customer. It’s very unique in that regard.”

Rayburn also stresses that, because Verizon is only serving its own customers, today’s CDN announcement doesn’t signify the carrier’s entrance into the CDN market as a competitor to Akamai Technologies or even Level 3 Communications.

But Verizon is gearing the CDN to content owner customers. “This could help any content owner who wants to get in the system,” Pasko said.

As for the effect the new CDN will have on Verizon’s network, Pasko said, “I don’t think we’re going to be reducing congestion on our network because I don’t think we’re seeing [congestion].”

However, he added, “By being closer to the user, you’re using less resources, whether they’re ours nationally or regionally or other ISPs’. The traffic is travelling shorter distances, so there’s less opportunity to have any choke point.”