Company snapshot
| Category | Limelight | Lumen Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| Status | defunct | defunct |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
Limelight Networks, later rebranded as Edgio, was a content delivery network (CDN) provider founded in 2001, specializing in digital media and software delivery. It offered services for video streaming, web acceleration, and content delivery with a global network. The company ceased operations on January 15, 2025, following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in September 2024, driven by mismanagement, failed acquisitions, and operational challenges.
Lumen Technologies, formerly CenturyLink, was a telecommunications company that provided content delivery network (CDN) services until October 2023, when it sold select CDN customer contracts to Akamai. The company has since exited the CDN business to focus on enterprise connectivity, fiber infrastructure, and AI-driven network solutions. Its CDN services were used by enterprises and media companies, notably for events like the NFL Wild Card game on Peacock.
Network & Architecture
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Feature comparison
| Feature | Limelight | Lumen Technologies |
|---|---|---|
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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Integrations & DevEx
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When it fits
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When it doesn’t
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History & Notes
Limelight was a key player in the CDN market, delivering content for major events like the 2008 Olympics and Obama’s inauguration. Its 2022 acquisition of Edgecast aimed to expand its edge computing and security offerings but led to integration challenges and talent loss. Financial restatements in 2023 and a slowdown in internet traffic growth further strained operations. Some assets, like the Uplynk platform, were acquired by Lynrock Lake LP, while Parler Cloud Technologies purchased Edgecast’s CDN business. No official EOL notice remains publicly available.
Lumen’s CDN operations were part of its broader telecommunications portfolio, leveraging its global fiber network. The decision to sell its CDN contracts to Akamai aligned with a strategic shift toward enterprise fiber, AI infrastructure, and network-as-a-service offerings. The transition was completed smoothly under a 90-day agreement, with no reported service disruptions during the handoff. For further details, see the official press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lumen-announces-sale-of-select-cdn-customer-contracts-to-akamai-301951303.html[](https://ir.lumen.com/news/news-details/2023/Lumen-announces-sale-of-select-CDN-customer-contracts-to-Akamai/default.aspx)