Company snapshot
| Category | CDNVideo | Highwinds |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | defunct |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
CDNVideo is a content delivery network provider founded in 2008, specializing in video streaming and content delivery services. Headquartered in Moscow, Russia, it serves a wide range of clients, including media companies, e-commerce platforms, and gaming businesses. The company operates a global network with a strong presence in Russia, EMEA, APAC, and China. CDNVideo focuses on delivering video-on-demand (VOD) and live streaming solutions, catering to businesses needing reliable content distribution. Its customers include broadcasters, OTT platforms, and enterprises requiring low-latency video delivery.
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
CDNVideo operates over 100 points of presence (PoPs) across North America, Europe, Asia, and Russia, with a notable focus on the Russian market. Its network leverages partnerships with major ISPs and peering points to ensure low-latency delivery. The architecture supports video streaming with adaptive bitrate capabilities and is optimized for high-traffic scenarios. CDNVideo has a China-licensed CDN, enabling compliant content delivery in that region. Limitations include less extensive coverage in Latin America and Africa compared to larger providers like Cloudflare or Akamai.
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Feature comparison
| Feature | CDNVideo | 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
CDNVideo operates a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) pricing model with no long-term commitments. Pricing details are available on their official pricing page, though specific per-GB rates are not publicly disclosed without a quote. A free trial is offered for testing services. Volume discounts are available for high-traffic customers. https://www.cdnvideo.com/pricing
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Integrations & DevEx
CDNVideo provides an API-first platform for managing configurations and accessing real-time logs. Documentation is available for integrating with common CMS platforms and video players. It lacks native Terraform support or advanced CI/CD integrations compared to providers like Fastly. Migration tools are available for importing content from other CDNs, with support for standard protocols. Real-time analytics focus on video delivery metrics, such as buffering rates and viewer engagement.
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When it fits
- Businesses targeting Russia or China, where CDNVideo has strong regional presence and licensing.
- Media companies needing reliable video-on-demand or live streaming with RTMP ingest.
- Customers seeking a PAYG model with a focus on video delivery without complex edge compute needs.
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When it doesn’t
- Organizations requiring advanced edge compute, serverless functions, or key-value storage.
- Users needing extensive coverage in Latin America or Africa, where PoP density is lower.
- Enterprises prioritizing WAF, bot mitigation, or advanced analytics, which are not offered.
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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.