Beyond CDNs: Conversations on Infrastructure Scaling with i3D.net

Voices of Video

Stefan Ideler, co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of i3D.net, takes us behind the scenes of what makes a truly resilient global network. Founded in 2002, i3D.net has positioned itself as "the scaling experts" rather than just another CDN, working with gaming giants like Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Discord to ensure their services scale seamlessly during crucial launches and beyond.

What truly distinguishes i3D.net becomes clear as Stefan explains their network philosophy. While many providers prominently advertise their number of Points of Presence (POPs), Stefan reveals that the magic lies in how these points connect and who they connect with directly. With over 9,000 direct peering relationships - making them the second most interconnected network globally - i3D.net carries customer data much further into the delivery chain than competitors who quickly hand off to third parties.

This approach was born from serving the most demanding users on the internet: gamers. As Stefan colorfully puts it, "the controllers are already through the window if there's only a small interruption." By maintaining control and visibility over traffic from origin to the ISP's doorstep, i3D.net can immediately diagnose and address issues rather than waiting days for information from multiple middlemen.

Stefan also offers invaluable wisdom about avoiding cost traps when scaling infrastructure. He cautions against being seduced by initial incentives like free credits or the convenience of all-in-one cloud solutions. Instead, he recommends envisioning your needs when successful at scale and building a hybrid architecture that balances dedicated hardware (via their "Flex Metal" solution) for predictable workloads with true cloud flexibility only where needed.

Want to see how i3D.net's approach could transform your streaming infrastructure? Visit them at the NETINT booth during NAB or reach out directly to discover how the scaling experts can help your service deliver consistently excellent experiences, even when the internet itself is breaking.

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Chapters

1. Introduction to i3dnet and NAB (00:00:00)

2. What i3dnet Does: The Scaling Experts (00:04:40)

3. Network Philosophy and Direct Peering (00:09:30)

4. Quality vs Quantity in Network Infrastructure (00:16:00)

5. Cost Traps in Cloud Services (00:22:00)

6. Flex Metal Solutions and Final Advice (00:30:30)