Company snapshot
| Category | Arelion | Kingsoft Cloud (kscloud) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | active |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
Arelion, formerly Telia Carrier, is a global telecommunications provider based in Solna, Sweden, operating a tier 1 network with Autonomous System number AS1299. It offers fiber-based connectivity and IP services, including CDN solutions tailored for hosting and content delivery providers. The company serves wholesale customers, enterprises, and content providers like Facebook and CDNetworks. Its network spans over 77,000 km, connecting 350+ points of presence (PoPs) across 125 countries. Arelion focuses on high-capacity, low-latency connectivity for industries such as gaming, finance, and media.
Kingsoft Cloud, founded in 2012, is a leading cloud service provider in China, offering CDN, cloud storage, and computing services. It serves industries like gaming, video streaming, healthcare, and finance, with a strong focus on AI-driven solutions. The company operates as a subsidiary of Kingsoft Corporation and is listed on NASDAQ (KC) and HKEX (3896). Its customers include enterprises leveraging its infrastructure for high-performance computing and AI applications, particularly within the Xiaomi and Kingsoft ecosystems. As of 2025, it reports significant growth in AI cloud revenue and operates data centers globally.
Network & Architecture
Arelion operates a global fiber network with over 350 PoPs in more than 125 countries, covering Europe, North America, Asia, and Latin America. Its North American network accounts for 57% of its customer bandwidth, with 40% year-over-year growth. The company maintains direct connections to over 70% of global Internet routes, leveraging its tier 1 status for robust peering and routing. Recent expansions include new routes in Texas and Mexico, enhancing diversity and capacity. The network is monitored 24/7 from centralized Network Operations Centers, ensuring consistent performance. Regional strengths include Europe and North America, with growing presence in Latin America and Asia.
Kingsoft Cloud operates data centers in mainland China, Hong Kong, Russia, Southeast Asia, and North America. Specific POP (Point of Presence) counts are not publicly disclosed, but the provider emphasizes a global footprint with strong coverage in APAC, particularly China. Its infrastructure supports high-performance computing for AI and gaming, with robust peering for low-latency delivery in the region. Limitations may include less extensive coverage in EMEA and LATAM compared to providers like Akamai or Cloudflare. The service is optimized for China’s regulatory environment, holding necessary licenses for operation.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Arelion | Kingsoft Cloud (kscloud) |
|---|---|---|
waf | ✗ | ✓ |
bot_mitigation | ✗ | ✗ |
ddos | ✓ | ✓ |
rate_limit | ✗ | ✗ |
http3_quic | ✗ | ✗ |
tls13 | ✗ | ✗ |
tiered_cache | ✗ | ✗ |
origin_shield | ✗ | ✗ |
instant_purge | ✗ | ✗ |
stale_while_revalidate | ✗ | ✗ |
stale_if_error | ✗ | ✗ |
image_optimization | ✗ | ✓ |
video_vod | ✗ | ✓ |
video_live | ✗ | ✓ |
drm | ✗ | ✗ |
hls_dash_packaging | ✗ | ✗ |
websockets | ✗ | ✗ |
signed_urls | ✗ | ✗ |
edge_compute | ✗ | ✓ |
functions | ✗ | ✗ |
kv_storage | ✗ | ✗ |
api_first | ✓ | ✓ |
realtime_logs | ✓ | ✓ |
log_push | ✗ | ✗ |
terraform | ✗ | ✗ |
Legend: ✓ = Supported, ✗ = Not supported, — = Not listed
Pricing
Arelion’s pricing model is primarily enterprise-oriented, with custom contracts for wholesale and large-scale customers. No public per-GB pricing is available, and the company does not offer a free tier or pay-as-you-go plans. Pricing details are typically negotiated based on capacity and service requirements. For more information, visit https://www.arelion.com.
Kingsoft Cloud uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with enterprise-focused pricing, requiring custom quotes for most services. No free tier is publicly advertised, and pricing details are not fully transparent without contacting sales. Per-GB pricing for CDN or storage is not publicly listed, but the model supports scalability for large enterprises. See https://en.ksyun.com/pricing for more details.
Integrations & DevEx
Arelion’s My Arelion portal supports Open APIs for accessing usage data, support tickets, and service management, enabling integration with customer systems. The portal includes BGP tools and allows self-service for ordering services like Cloud Connect and IP Transit. No specific support for Terraform or CI/CD pipelines is documented. Real-time logs are available through the portal, providing visibility into network performance and service status.
Kingsoft Cloud provides APIs for service management and real-time logs for monitoring. Documentation is available at https://endocs.ksyun.com/, covering CDN, storage, and compute services. Terraform support is not explicitly documented. SDKs are available for major programming languages, supporting integration with CI/CD pipelines. Migration tools for data transfer, such as Kingsoft Cloud Data Transmission Service (KDTS), assist with moving data between engines.
When it fits
- Enterprises needing high-capacity, low-latency connectivity for content delivery across global markets.
- Wholesale customers requiring direct access to a tier 1 network with extensive peering.
- Businesses in Europe or North America seeking robust DDoS mitigation and API-driven service management.
- Enterprises needing a China-licensed CDN with strong APAC coverage for gaming or video streaming.
- Businesses within the Xiaomi or Kingsoft ecosystems seeking integrated AI and cloud solutions.
- Organizations prioritizing AI-driven edge computing and high-performance infrastructure.
When it doesn’t
- Small businesses or startups looking for pay-as-you-go or free-tier CDN options.
- Customers needing advanced edge compute, image optimization, or video-specific CDN features.
- Organizations prioritizing transparent, publicly available pricing without custom contracts.
- Small businesses or startups looking for a free tier or transparent, low-cost pricing.
- Companies requiring extensive POP coverage in EMEA, LATAM, or other non-APAC regions.
- Users needing advanced features like HTTP/3, DRM, or Terraform integration not currently offered.
History & Notes
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