Company snapshot
| Category | KeyCDN | NTT Communications |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | defunct |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
KeyCDN is a content delivery network (CDN) provider founded in 2012, headquartered in Wilen, Switzerland. It specializes in accelerating the delivery of web content, such as HTML, JavaScript, images, and videos, through a global network of edge servers. The service is designed for businesses of all sizes, from small blogs to enterprise websites, offering features like real-time analytics and DDoS protection. KeyCDN emphasizes ease of integration with a user-friendly dashboard and API, making it accessible for developers and SMBs. It supports a wide range of use cases, including e-commerce, media, and gaming, with a focus on performance and security.
NTT Communications, a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, provided a content delivery network (CDN) through its Smart Data Platform, powered by EdgeCast, offering global content delivery for enterprises. The service, launched in 1999, supported various industries with robust network infrastructure until its deprecation in 2025. Following the sale of Edgio’s CDN business, NTT Communications announced the shutdown of its CDN platform, with services ceasing on January 15, 2025. Customers were advised to migrate to Akamai to maintain CDN functionality.
Network & Architecture
KeyCDN operates over 50 points of presence (POPs) across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and other regions, ensuring global coverage. Its network leverages SSD storage and HTTP/3 for efficient content delivery. The service uses a tiered caching system and supports origin shielding to reduce load on origin servers. KeyCDN has strong peering agreements with major ISPs, optimizing latency and throughput. Its regional strengths include robust performance in North America and Europe, though coverage in Africa and parts of Asia may be less extensive compared to larger providers like Cloudflare or Akamai.
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Feature comparison
| Feature | KeyCDN | NTT Communications |
|---|---|---|
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
KeyCDN uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with no minimum commitments, making it SMB-friendly. Pricing starts at $0.04 per GB for the first 10 TB in North America and Europe, with higher rates for other regions like Asia ($0.14/GB) and Oceania ($0.19/GB). A 30-day free trial includes 10 GB of traffic. Additional features like DDoS protection are included at no extra cost, though custom SSL certificates may incur fees. Full details are available at https://www.keycdn.com/pricing.
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Integrations & DevEx
KeyCDN provides a robust API for automating tasks like cache purging and zone management, supporting an API-first workflow. Real-time logs and analytics are accessible via the dashboard or API, with log push capabilities for integration with external systems. It offers plugins for platforms like WordPress and Magento, simplifying setup for non-technical users. Terraform support is not available, but the API covers most automation needs. Migration tools are limited, though the dashboard supports easy configuration for importing assets from origin servers.
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When it fits
- Small to medium-sized businesses needing a cost-effective, easy-to-use CDN with global reach and real-time analytics.
- Developers seeking an API-first CDN with features like instant purge and signed URLs for dynamic applications.
- Websites with heavy image or VOD content, leveraging KeyCDN’s optimization and delivery capabilities.
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When it doesn’t
- Enterprises requiring advanced edge computing or serverless functions, which KeyCDN does not offer.
- Users needing extensive coverage in Africa or niche regions where KeyCDN’s POP density is lower than competitors like Cloudflare.
- Applications requiring specialized video features like live streaming or DRM, which are not supported.
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History & Notes
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NTT Communications leveraged its telecom expertise to deliver CDN services, primarily targeting enterprise clients in Asia and globally. The partnership with EdgeCast enabled features like instant purge and real-time logs, but the service’s reliance on Edgio led to its discontinuation after the 2024 asset sale to Akamai. Some customers may still access archived documentation or support through NTT’s sales channels during the transition period.