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The growing complexity of content delivery networks: Challenges and implications for the Internet ecosystem

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  • Stocker, Volker
  • Smaragdakis, Georgios
  • Lehr, William
  • Bauer, Steven

Abstract

Since the commercialization of the Internet, content and related applications, including video streaming, news, advertisements, and social interaction have moved online. It is broadly recognized that the rise of all of these different types of content (static and dynamic, and increasingly multimedia) has been one of the main forces behind the phenomenal growth of the Internet, and its emergence as essential infrastructure for how individuals across the globe gain access to the content sources they want. To accelerate the delivery of diverse content in the Internet and to provide commercial-grade performance for video delivery and the Web, Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) were introduced. This paper describes the current CDN ecosystem and the forces that have driven its evolution. We outline the different CDN architectures and consider their relative strengths and weaknesses. Our analysis highlights the role of location, the growing complexity of the CDN ecosystem, and their relationship to and implications for interconnection markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Stocker, Volker & Smaragdakis, Georgios & Lehr, William & Bauer, Steven, 2017. "The growing complexity of content delivery networks: Challenges and implications for the Internet ecosystem," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(10), pages 1003-1016.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:41:y:2017:i:10:p:1003-1016
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2017.02.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peyman FARATIN & David CLARK & Steven BAUER & William LEHR & Patrick GILMORE & Arthur BERGER, 2008. "The Growing Complexity of Internet Interconnection," Communications & Strategies, IDATE, Com&Strat dept., vol. 1(72), pages 51-72, 4th quart.
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    Cited by:

    1. Briglauer, Wolfgang & Stocker, Volker & Whalley, Jason, 2018. "Public Policy Targets in EU Broadband Markets: The Role of Technological Neutrality," 29th European Regional ITS Conference, Trento 2018 184936, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    2. Briglauer, Wolfgang & Stocker, Volker, 2020. "Bedeutung digitaler Infrastrukturen und Dienste und Maßnahmen zur Förderung der Resilienz in Krisenzeiten," Policy Notes 42, EcoAustria – Institute for Economic Research.
    3. Vogelsang Ingo, 2018. "Net Neutrality Regulation: Much Ado about Nothing?," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 17(3), pages 225-243, September.
    4. Stocker, Volker & Whalley, Jason, 2018. "Speed isn't everything: A multi-criteria analysis of the broadband consumer experience in the UK," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 1-14.
    5. Bauer, Johannes M. & Knieps, Günter, 2018. "Complementary innovation and network neutrality," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 172-183.
    6. Sjøvaag, Helle & Olsen, Ragnhild Kr. & Ferrer-Conill, Raul, 2024. "Delivering content: Modular broadcasting technology and the role of content delivery networks," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4).
    7. Günter Knieps, 2017. "Internet of Things, future networks, and the economics of virtual networks," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 18(3-4), pages 240-255, September.
    8. Cave, Martin, 2018. "How disruptive is 5G?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(8), pages 653-658.
    9. Lehr, William & Clark, David & Bauer, Steve, 2019. "Regulation when platforms are layered," 30th European Regional ITS Conference, Helsinki 2019 205193, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    10. Stocker Volker & Knieps Guenter, 2018. "Network Neutrality Through the Lens of Network Economics," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 17(3), pages 115-150, September.
    11. Günter Knieps, 2019. "Internet der Dinge und die Zukunft der Netzökonomie [Internet of Things and the Future of Network Economics]," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 99(5), pages 348-354, May.
    12. Briglauer, Wolfgang & Stocker, Volker & Stockhammer, Paul, 2019. "Ist Netzneutralität tatsächlich gut? Eine Neubewertung vor dem Hintergrund der Regulierung in den USA und in der EU sowie aktueller Forschungsergebnisse," Policy Notes 38, EcoAustria – Institute for Economic Research.
    13. Leka, Enxhi, 2022. "What Should Economists Know About the Cloud? A Literature Review on Digital Economics," 31st European Regional ITS Conference, Gothenburg 2022: Reining in Digital Platforms? Challenging monopolies, promoting competition and developing regulatory regimes 265651, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    14. Oughton, Edward J. & Lehr, William & Katsaros, Konstantinos & Selinis, Ioannis & Bubley, Dean & Kusuma, Julius, 2021. "Revisiting Wireless Internet Connectivity: 5G vs Wi-Fi 6," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(5).
    15. Briglauer, Wolfgang & Stocker, Volker & Whalley, Jason, 2020. "Public policy targets in EU broadband markets: The role of technological neutrality," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(5).
    16. Queder, Fabian & Lehr, William & Haucap, Justus, 2020. "5G and Mobile Broadband Disruption," ITS Conference, Online Event 2020 224872, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    17. Lehr, William & Queder, Fabian & Haucap, Justus, 2021. "5G: A new future for Mobile Network Operators, or not?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(3).
    18. Briglauer, Wolfgang & Cambini, Carlo & Gugler, Klaus & Stocker, Volker, 2021. "Net Neutrality and High Speed Broadband Networks: Evidence from OECD Countries," 23rd ITS Biennial Conference, Online Conference / Gothenburg 2021. Digital societies and industrial transformations: Policies, markets, and technologies in a post-Covid world 238012, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    19. Wolfgang Briglauer & Carlo Cambini & Klaus Gugler & Volker Stocker, 2023. "Net neutrality and high-speed broadband networks: evidence from OECD countries," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 533-571, June.
    20. Lehr, William & Clark, David & Bauer, Steve & Berger, Arthur & Richter, Philipp, 2018. "Whither the public Internet?," 29th European Regional ITS Conference, Trento 2018 184954, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).

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