Company snapshot
| Category | Level3 | MediaNova |
|---|---|---|
| Status | defunct | active |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
Level3, originally Level 3 Communications, was a multinational telecommunications and internet service provider that operated a global Tier-1 network and content delivery network (CDN) until its CDN services were discontinued in 2023. Acquired by CenturyLink (now Lumen Technologies) in 2017, it provided core transport, IP, voice, video, and content delivery for medium-to-large internet carriers. The CDN focused on video delivery, large object caching, and edge computing, serving clients across North America, Latin America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Level3’s CDN is no longer active, and its network assets are now managed under Lumen Technologies.
MediaNova is a content delivery network (CDN) and cloud security provider founded in 2005, headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey. It offers services like web acceleration, video streaming, and API caching, with a focus on the EMEA region. The company serves industries such as media, e-commerce, and telecommunications, with notable customers including Turkcell, Vodafone, and Hepsiburada. MediaNova’s platform includes advanced security features and real-time analytics. It received significant investment from Turkven in November 2024, strengthening its market position.
Network & Architecture
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MediaNova operates over 50 points of presence (PoPs) across 21 countries, with a strong presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Its global Anycast DNS network routes user requests to the nearest server, optimizing latency and resilience. The CDN is optimized for EMEA, offering direct access to major carriers and ISPs. However, its smaller PoP count compared to competitors like Akamai or Amazon CloudFront may limit global reach outside EMEA.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Level3 | MediaNova |
|---|---|---|
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
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MediaNova uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with pricing based on data transfer and additional features. Estimated costs include $0.04–$0.20 per GB for data transfer and $0.006 per 10,000 HTTP/HTTPS requests. WAF, DDoS protection, and edge computing may incur extra charges. No free tier is publicly documented, and pricing is enterprise-focused. Full details are available at https://www.medianova.com/pricing/.
Integrations & DevEx
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MediaNova offers an API-first Cloud Panel for configuration, analytics, and management of CDN resources. Real-time logs and analytics provide granular insights into traffic and performance. No Terraform or SDK support is documented. The platform supports custom cache rules, image optimization, and security configurations, but lacks explicit CI/CD or migration tools.
When it fits
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- Businesses targeting the EMEA region, particularly MENA, benefit from MediaNova’s optimized regional PoPs and low latency.
- Enterprises needing robust security features like WAF, DDoS protection, and bot management for web and API traffic.
- Media and e-commerce companies requiring video streaming and image optimization for fast content delivery.
When it doesn’t
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- Organizations needing extensive global coverage may find MediaNova’s 50+ PoPs insufficient compared to larger providers like Cloudflare.
- Developers seeking advanced edge compute features or Terraform integration may need more robust platforms.
- Small businesses or startups looking for a free tier or low-cost entry may find MediaNova’s enterprise focus less accessible.
History & Notes
Level3 was a major player in the CDN market, leveraging its Tier-1 network to deliver high-performance content delivery, particularly for video and large files. Its acquisition of companies like Genuity, WilTel, and TW Telecom expanded its footprint, but the 2017 merger with CenturyLink shifted focus to broader network services. The CDN’s shutdown in 2023 was part of Lumen’s strategic pivot, though specific reasons for discontinuation were not publicly detailed. Some network assets may still support Lumen’s non-CDN services.
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