Akamai has announced the launch of a new cloud computing solution designed for media and streaming companies.
Akamai has announced the launch of a new cloud computing solution designed for media and streaming companies. The company is introducing its Cloud Accelerated Compute Instances, powered by NETINT video processing units (VPUs), specialised hardware for video transcoding. Akamai claims to be the first cloud provider to offer this type of compute service.
The new instances use NETINT’s Quadra T1U VPUs, designed to handle video encoding tasks more efficiently than traditional processors. These VPUs are capable of handling resolutions up to 8Kp60 in formats such as AV1, HEVC and H.264, supporting both 8/10-bit encoding and HDR. The hardware is noted for its high density, being able to manage 32 live streams at 1080p30, and it scales efficiently for higher or lower resolution formats.
The growing demand for video streaming, especially in live and on-demand formats, has driven a need for more specialized cloud services that can handle video transcoding with greater efficiency. In the past, companies requiring such services had limited options, often relying on on-premises or colocation facilities. Akamai’s new service offers a cloud-based solution that enables media companies to scale their operations while managing costs, addressing a gap in the market for optimized video processing resources.
The service aims to assist media companies with both live streaming and on-demand video delivery. The specialized VPUs offload compute-intensive video processing tasks from standard CPUs, allowing the latter to focus on other operations, such as packaging, real-time captioning, and software decoding. According to Akamai, this arrangement offers up to 20 times the throughput compared to CPU-only solutions, improving efficiency and reducing costs for companies managing large video libraries or live events.
The move also positions Akamai to compete more directly with major cloud service providers, offering tailored solutions for media companies that may have been overlooked by larger hyperscalers. Akamai’s extensive media services already support top video streaming companies and offer a range of solutions, including transcoding, transport, digital rights management and content security.
At the upcoming 2025 NAB Show in Las Vegas, Akamai will showcase its cloud platform’s capabilities for media delivery, computing, and security.
