iBEAM Broadcasting Continues Relentless Expansion of Its Streaming Media "Edge" Footprint
More than 25% of Internet End-Users Now Served by High-Fidelity iBEAM Edge Service, All Internet Users Experience the Performance Benefits
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SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 2000-- iBEAM Broadcasting© Corporation (Nasdaq:IBEM - news) today announced that its ``edge'' distribution network continues to expand to include more major Internet Access Providers. iBEAM continues to sign and execute agreements to deploy MaxCaster(TM) media serving systems in the networks of over 100 leading Access Providers including America Online, Excite@Home, Northpoint Communications and Winstar. This continued expansion is necessary to achieve iBEAM's goal of delivering high-fidelity streaming media to the Internet audience.
iBEAM(TM) has deployed a hybrid fiber and satellite network designed to deliver high-quality streaming media as close to the end user as possible. iBEAM installs MaxCaster media serving systems into Access Providers data centers and local Points-of-Presence (POPs). These POPs receive streaming content from the iBEAM Broadcasting center via satellite downlink. The Access Providers can then send a clean, high-quality copy of the stream to their subscribers over their ``last-mile'' network. The benefits of this design are available to more and more Internet users as new Access Providers agree to deploy iBEAM equipment. This architecture allows the iBEAM Network to scale to handle the enormous demand generated by our content provider customers. iBEAM is currently able to supply more than 500,000 simultaneous streams and transferred more than 46.0 Million Megabytes of data, the equivalent to over 100 Million three-minute streams in the month of May 2000.
In addition to iBEAM's network of edge servers, iBEAM continues to deploy powerful streaming servers at key nodes around the Internet backbone. By combining the highest performing redundant fiber delivery with iBEAM's advanced satellite-based streaming, iBEAM offers content providers a service with global reach, high efficiency, and high availability. iBEAM has deployed new streaming hardware at Equinix collocation facilities. The carrier neutral design of the Equinix data centers allows iBEAM to stream traffic directly onto the backbones of leading fiber providers, contributing to the fidelity and value of the iBEAM Network.
``We are excited that so many leading Access Providers have understood the iBEAM value proposition and have chosen to partner with us,'' said Peter B. Desnoes, President and CEO of iBEAM Broadcasting. ``These partnerships greatly increase iBEAM's footprint, while enabling these top ISPs to offer their customers the best quality streaming services available on the Internet.''
The iBEAM solution adds particular value to broadband ISPs, who have solved the last-mile problem but need reliable, high performance streams delivered to their network. ``Our agreement with iBEAM enhances Winstar's widely available broadband network by making iBEAM's multimedia streaming offerings available to our hosting customers and by bringing multimedia content distribution closer to our end users,'' said Roger Pilc, Vice President and General Manager of Winstar Internet and Hosting Services. ``Our broadband customers can now enjoy the highest quality multimedia experience.''
``We are pleased to be working with iBEAM to offer our Internet and other network service provider partners access to iBEAM's broadcast network,'' said Brian David, director of business development at NorthPoint Communications, a national competitive local exchange carrier offering DSL-based high-speed Internet access in 37 major markets. ``NorthPoint's goal is to make broadband connectivity affordable for more businesses and consumers and to offer them a local network capable of supporting the delivery of high-quality streaming media and other content. NorthPoint's alliance with iBEAM is an important part of NorthPoint's Blast initiative to deliver local broadband content to service providers nationwide.''
The average Internet stream must pass through 17 routers, which can lead to degradation of the stream. When iBEAM serves streams from an Access Provider's POP, users are typically only one or two router hops away, resulting significantly higher stream quality. The iBEAM Access Partner Program is ramping up fast. ISPs and Access Providers who join this program benefit from iBEAM's high-fidelity, low-cost streaming service, deployed at no charge to qualified providers. iBEAM Access Partners are also eligible to participate in a variety of joint marketing and content promotion activities with iBEAM. Finally, ISPs that join the iBEAM Access Partner Program are eligible to re-sell iBEAM's advanced streaming delivery on a wholesale, ISP branded basis.
About iBEAM Broadcasting Corporation
iBEAM Broadcasting Corporation, headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., was founded by data communications, television, and telecommunications professionals in 1998. iBEAM provides a sophisticated Internet broadcast network that delivers streaming media to large audiences with viewing and listening quality that approaches television and radio. iBEAM's customers include media, technology and entertainment companies. For more information about iBEAM's broadcasting services, visit ibeam.com, or contact the company at 645 Almanor Avenue, Suite 100, Sunnyvale, CA 94086, telephone 408/523-1600. |
