Hybrid design
Our broadcast head-end servers receive incoming streams from venue-based encoders. These streams are converted to a universal protocol and transrated to produce multiple streams of varying bit rates to support adaptive bit rate technology and are then pushed into the Akamai content delivery network for end-user access. Akamai is the largest content delivery network in the world with major broadcasting networks as their clients. (http://Akamai.com). Streams may also be supplied directly to enterprises that have their own video distribution system.
Fully redundant architecture
Our servers are teamed for fail-over and server teams are physically located in different internet access locations.
Adaptive bitrate streams
With adaptive bit rate technology, MAXPlayer monitors the available bandwidth and switches between available streams to reduce the risk of a poor viewer experience.
NOTE: Internet Explorer 11 with Windows 7 does not support this technology. MAXPlayer detects this platform and will choose a fixed bandwidth stream to solve the problem.
No limit to number of viewers
With over 60,000 Akamai servers worldwide there is no practical limit to the number webcast participants.
Internal enterprise network distribution
If our MAXPlayer detects viewers located within an enterprise where there are video caching appliances (such as the Government of Canada), a compatible stream will be sourced. If our MAXPlayer detects viewers located within an enterprise that has its own video distribution system, a local stream will be sourced.