Company snapshot
| Category | Arelion | Section IO |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | defunct |
| 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.
Section IO was a cloud-native hosting provider specializing in edge computing and content delivery network (CDN) services, founded in 2012 in Australia and later headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. It offered a Kubernetes-based platform to optimize application delivery with a focus on developer-centric features like real-time logs and instant cache purging. The company was acquired by Webscale in October 2023 to launch CloudFlow, an AI-driven Kubernetes orchestration platform. As of 2025, Section IO no longer operates as an independent CDN provider, and its services have been integrated into Webscale’s offerings.
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.
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Feature comparison
| Feature | Arelion | Section IO |
|---|---|---|
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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History & Notes
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Section IO initially operated as a CDN provider before pivoting to edge-native computing, emphasizing Kubernetes orchestration and developer tools. Its acquisition by Webscale in 2023 shifted its technology toward CloudFlow, focusing on AI-driven resource allocation and multi-cloud integration. The transition left some customers, particularly in Australia, seeking new providers. No conflicting reports suggest a revival of Section IO’s standalone services. For more details on Webscale’s current offerings, see https://www.webscale.com.