Akamai First to Offer VPUs in the Cloud

About this update from Akamai Technologies, Inc.

[{"type":"text","content":"Akamai launches new category of cloud-based compute powered by NETINT video processing units\nCAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online, today launched Akamai Cloud Accelerated Compute Instances, a new compute category built on specialized computer chips designed to perform specific tasks more efficiently than general-purpose processors. The new instances are powered by NETINT video processing units (VPUs), NETINT's proprietary hardware for media transcoding. Akamai is the first and only cloud provider to offer VPUs in the cloud.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \nNETINT VPUs are designed for workloads where minimizing the cost of delivering high-quality video streams is essential or where reducing energy consumption is a priority. Akamai's accelerated instances are powered by Quadra T1U VPUs, a single-chip solution that supports encoding resolutions up to 8Kp60 in industry-standard formats including AV1, HEVC, and H.264 with 8/10 bit support, including HDR. As the highest-density hardware encoder available, the Quadra T1U can encode 32 live streams at 1080p30 broadcast quality, with the capacity scaling linearly for resolutions above or below HD.\nThe rise in live and on-demand video streaming, user-generated content, and video-driven social media has driven companies to look for optimized hardware and cloud solutions to improve application performance. However, transcoding-optimized cloud computing resources are rare. Previously, the only way to deploy NETINT's VPU hardware has been to purchase it outright and run it on-premises or in a colocation facility. Akamai Accelerated Compute Instances are designed for media companies that are delivering video on demand and live streaming services, providing the scalability needed without inflating IT budgets.\n\"By bringing traditionally hardware-confined power to the cloud, we're removing barriers that have held businesses back. Companies can now cut costs, scale seamlessly, and deliver better streaming experiences — solving a major industry challenge that's been overlooked for too long,\" said Jon Alexander, Vice President of Product Management at Akamai. \"Being the first cloud provider to offer VPUs gives Akamai a new competitive edge to expand our long-existing relationship...

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