BT Group has taken a major step towards the commercial launch of Multicast-Assisted Unicast Delivery (MAUD), partnering with Edgio to integrate the provider’s Content Delivery Network (CDN) into its live streaming service.

BT said the two companies plan to test the delivery of TV content from its operator EE on set-top boxes “on the live network” over the coming months to develop MAUD from proof of concept to practical use.

The partnership comes just months after BT merged with CDN provider Broadpeak to further strengthen MAUD with various video delivery components.

Launched in December 2023 after several years of development, MAUD aims to provide users with a seamless live streaming experience during peak hours, reduce costs and enable “greener streaming.”

With demand for live content and on-demand services continuing to be high, BT sees MAUD as a key solution to cope with ever-increasing traffic loads. Multicast is used to combine individual streams into a single stream and then distribute it to those “who want to see the action”.

BT said the integration of CDNs is crucial for content delivery as it enables caching as close to the customer as possible.

Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT, said the goal was to “develop an efficient live streaming solution that meets the needs of players in the content delivery path.”

Paolo Pescatore, CEO and president of PP Foresight, said the deal represents a small but important step for MAUD. However, other CDNs would also need to join in so that the benefits of the technology “can be enjoyed by all ISPs, not just on BT’s network”.