Netskrt and Lumen Partner to Enhance Streaming Infrastructure for Live Sports

What's Happening?

Netskrt Systems and Lumen Technologies have announced a partnership aimed at improving streaming infrastructure to meet the growing demands of over-the-top (OTT) video consumption. This collaboration will see Lumen providing Netskrt with dynamic Edge Bare Metal (EBM) capacity, which is crucial for supporting Netskrt's expanding requirements on a multi-national scale. The partnership comes at a time when digital platforms are surpassing traditional linear TV for live sports viewership in the U.S., with projections indicating that 127 million Americans will stream live sports online by 2027. The increasing consumer expectations for high-quality streaming, such as 4K and 8K, are driving significant growth in traffic volume, challenging traditional delivery models and ISP networks.

Why It's Important?

The partnership between Netskrt and Lumen is significant as it addresses the growing demand for high-quality streaming services, particularly for live sports events. As consumer expectations rise, the need for efficient and reliable streaming infrastructure becomes critical. This collaboration aims to transform the economics and performance of live OTT video delivery, potentially benefiting millions of viewers who rely on digital platforms for sports content. The enhanced infrastructure could lead to improved streaming quality and reduced latency, which are essential for maintaining viewer satisfaction and competitiveness in the streaming industry.

What's Next?

The partnership is expected to lead to advancements in streaming technology, with Lumen's edge network offering latency of less than 5 milliseconds and direct connectivity to major cloud providers and enterprise locations. This could result in more robust and efficient streaming services, setting a new standard for live sports and other OTT content delivery. As the collaboration progresses, stakeholders in the streaming industry, including content providers and ISPs, may need to adapt to these changes to remain competitive and meet consumer demands.