Etisalat has signed an agreement with Level 3 Communications, an international communications company, to host a new Level 3 content distribution network (CDN) node.

The new Level 3 CDN node will be hosted within the Etisalat SmartHub facility. Level 3’s global CDN can now connect to Etisalat providing network reach, performance and scalability to its regional customers. The agreement now expands Etisalat’s portfolio of services leveraging CDN for video and other bandwidth-intensive offerings.

Etisalat and Level 3’s CDN will localise delivery of Internet traffic as a way to meet their customers’ massive growth in demand for Internet services. The CDN node in SmartHub reinforces Level 3’s commitment to continuing to expand its global CDN reach.

Level 3 CDN services can significantly benefit content producers and businesses by reducing loading times for videos and web pages bringing content closer to the end users. Moreover, CDN solutions help minimize the need for sending local traffic outside the network.

Ali Amiri, executive vice president, Etisalat Carrier and Wholesale Services said: “We are pleased to be hosting such a large and well-recognized global CDN provider in the UAE. Etisalat is constantly improving the speed and quality of internet services provided to our UAE and greater MENA subscribers. This is done by constantly implementing advanced technologies like CDN and understanding the exact requirements of the market.”

James Heard, regional president EMEA, Level 3 said: “Etisalat’s SmartHub facilities provide access to the Emirates Internet Exchange (EMIX), the exchange which has served the region’s most important IP transit facility.”

“This enables Level 3 to reach millions of Internet users on the Etisalat regional network. Level 3 has now expanded its reach into the Middle East highlighting the growing importance of content delivery to the last mile to our customers.” – TradeArabia News Service