Company snapshot
| Category | CDN77 | Highwinds |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | defunct |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
CDN77 is a global content delivery network (CDN) provider based in London, founded in 2011. It operates a network with over 200 Tbps capacity across six continents, delivering approximately 175 petabytes of data daily, with a primary focus on video content, which constitutes about 90% of its traffic. The company serves a range of clients, including websites, gaming platforms, and streaming services, offering features like DDoS protection and real-time analytics. CDN77 is noted for its infrastructure services and content delivery, supporting major websites and applications worldwide.
Highwinds Network Group, Inc., founded in 2002, provided content delivery network (CDN) services, cloud storage, IP transit, and colocation, serving clients like Blip.TV, Hudl, Valve, and CCP Games. Its RollingThunder network supported video streaming and gaming content delivery. Acquired by StackPath in 2017, Highwinds CDN was integrated into StackPath’s offerings but was discontinued in November 2023 as StackPath exited the CDN business. The service is now defunct, with no active operations.
Network & Architecture
CDN77 maintains a global network with over 20,000 servers and points of presence (PoPs) across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Its infrastructure supports a capacity of 200 Tbps, with robust peering and routing optimized for low latency. The network is particularly strong in Europe and North America, with recent expansions in Asia through partnerships like Exa Infrastructure for 400G and 100G wavelengths. While it has comprehensive global coverage, its presence in Africa and certain parts of APAC may be less dense compared to competitors like Cloudflare or Akamai.
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Feature comparison
| Feature | CDN77 | Highwinds |
|---|---|---|
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
CDN77 operates on a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with no long-term commitments, making it accessible for various business sizes. Pricing is traffic-based, with per-GB rates available but not publicly detailed; for example, high-volume plans are tailored for enterprise clients. A free trial is offered for testing services. Full pricing details are available at https://www.cdn77.com/pricing.
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Integrations & DevEx
CDN77 supports an API-first approach with comprehensive APIs for managing services, including content purging and analytics. Real-time logs and analytics are available, with log-push capabilities for integration with external systems. While Terraform support is not explicitly documented, the platform offers SDKs and tools for developers to automate configurations. Migration tools are available to assist with onboarding from other CDNs, and the client portal provides detailed analytics for monitoring performance.
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When it fits
- Suitable for video-heavy workloads, such as streaming platforms or VOD services, due to its robust video delivery features.
- Ideal for gaming companies needing low-latency content delivery and DDoS protection for global audiences.
- Fits businesses seeking a PAYG model with flexible scaling and no long-term contracts.
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When it doesn’t
- May not be the best choice for organizations requiring advanced WAF or bot mitigation, as these features are not currently offered.
- Less optimal for users needing extensive edge compute functions or key-value storage, which are limited compared to competitors like Fastly.
- Smaller presence in Africa or niche APAC regions may limit performance for highly localized traffic.
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History & Notes
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Highwinds operated a global network with over 70 points of presence across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, known as RollingThunder. It secured significant funding, including $55 million in 2008 and $205 million in 2013, to expand its CDN infrastructure. After its 2017 acquisition by StackPath, Highwinds’ services were merged but faced integration challenges. Customer feedback on StackPath’s CDN, including Highwinds, highlighted declining support and price increases. Akamai acquired approximately 100 enterprise accounts from StackPath in 2023, but smaller customers needed to find alternatives independently.