Sky has deployed Nokia’s Velocix Content Delivery Network (CDN), the Finnish tech company has announced.

Velocix allows the broadcaster to temporairily cache content closer to customers in localised cloud data centres to reduce transportation costs and improve the customer experience.

Nokia says the new solution provides better visibility for traffic demands and flows, ensuring greater predictability of performance and network usage compared to its current CDN service.

Mohamed Hammady, UK Chief Technology Officer, Sky said: “Nokia is a trusted partner of Sky. Using Nokia’s Velocix CDN, we have greater traffic visibility in the network, allowing us to regain control of managing the network capacity. Deploying the solution deep in the network also ensures we can manage delivery more effectively to improve performance and the customer experience. The introduction of Velocix CDN to support growth of our video on demand services was seamless.”

It is currently powering the TV-based on demand service, but will later be extended to support the Sky Go and Now TV services for live TV and video on demand.

Paul Larbey, head of Nokia’s IP Video business, adds: “The Sky project represents a milestone for Nokia as it’s the first deployment for a nationwide broadcaster and builds on Nokia’s number one position in the service provider CDN market. It shows that our Velocix CDN – which delivers high-quality programming – aligns with the needs of broadcasters and content providers in addition to those of IPTV and cable operators. Our innovative IP video portfolio will help Sky manage traffic more cost-effectively and efficiently.”

The Velocix solution gives Sky greater deployment efficiencies in terms of data centre density and footprint, as well as power and connectivity options.